West Bengal Elections: Central Forces Reach Kolkata Ahead of Date Announcement; EC Poll Preparations Begin

According to a senior Election Commission official, 60 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 30 companies of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and five companies each of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will be part of the central armed police forces for the state.

Paramilitary jawans arrival by a special train, at Chitpur Yard in Kolkata. (Image: PTI)

Kolkata: With the political scene heating up in West Bengal amid the ongoing tussle between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to capture the throne of Chief Minister's office, the Election Commission of India has decided to deploy 125 companies of the central forces by February 25 for the upcoming state assembly elections to ensure law and order remains in place.

According to a senior Election Commission official, as many as 60 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 30 companies of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and five companies each of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will be part of the central armed police forces for the state.

 

The official added the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has forwarded the district-wise list of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies.

The senior poll body official further said the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and Chief Superintendents of Police have been advised to take necessary steps for accommodation, transportation and other logistics for the central forces personnel.

The Election Commission is also considering deploying four companies of the CRPF personnel in Howrah Police Commissionerate area, two companies in Howrah (Rural) and three companies of the SSB personnel in Kolkata besides nine companies of the CRPF each for Jhargram and Purulia districts of the state.

The Election Commission, which may announce dates for polling to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly by next week, has also begun the training of over 20,000 polling officers in the state. The Election Commission official further said senior officials of the district administration and state police will be assisting the central forces, who will lay stress on area domination, mainly in the sensitive zones.

The security personnel have been issued instructions to send reports by 8 p.m. daily to the Chief Electoral Officer.

The Election Commission’s move assumes significance as West Bengal Labour Minister Jakir Hossain was earlier this week seriously injured after unidentified attackers hurled crude bombs at him in Murshidabad district. The untoward incident took place on Wednesday when Hossain was walking towards the Nimtita railway station to board a train to Kolkata.