Patna, March 22 The Bihar government has decided to deploy 48,000 security personnel in six Maoist-affected Lok Sabha constituencies to ensure peaceful polling there, a top police official said Saturday.

"We will deploy 48,000 security forces, including central paramilitary, in six Maoist-affected seats that will go to polls April 10," Inspector General (Operations) Amit Kumar told media persons here.

Kumar said police will use helicopters to keep a close watch on Maoist activities.

The six constituencies are Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Karakat, Jamui, Gaya and Sasaram.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, sitting MP from Sasaram, who is recontesting as a Congress candidate, former Delhi Police chief and former Kerala governor Nikhil Kumar from Aurangabad and Bihar Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary from Jamui are the prominent candidates.

(IANS)