Ranchi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Wednesday urged Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath to launch an awareness campaign in villages of Jharkhand before deploying para-military forces there ahead of the five-phased polls starting November 25.
"We requested the CEC to make villagers fearless of the security personnel before deployment because innocent villagers are scared of their uniform and heavy weapons they carry," JMM General Secretary Suprio Bhattacharya said after meeting the CEC here.
The JMM leader also demanded action against Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Kalraj Mishra for his reported speech during his recent visit to Jamshedpur.
The CEC met leaders of different political parties separately.
The BJP's state unit vice-president Rakesh Prasad requested the CEC to ensure flag march by security personnel in naxal-affected districts of Khunti, Simdega and Gumla "where political killings had been reported in the past."
The BJP leader also demanded removal of a senior official from Dumka as the party doubted his "credential".
Spokesman of Congress and RJD, Rajesh Thakur and Manoj Kumar respectively, who met the CEC on separate occasions, urged the Commission to increase the amount of cash-in-hand of candidates, while traveling, from the existing cap of Rs 50,000 only.
Thakur said the party also demanded protection for Congress candidate from Barkagaon, Nirmala Devi, wife of jailed Congress MLA Yogendra Sao during electioneering.
Sao is in judicial custody after resigning from the Hemant Soren Government in connection with alleged floating of a naxal outfit.
RJD leader Manoj Kumar demanded immediate arrest of the culprits who stoned the vehicle of party's state unit president and candidate from Garhwa Girinath Singh recently.
The CEC is on a two-day visit of Jharkhand from today.
