50,000 Security Personnel To Guard Sixth And Last Phase Of Polls

Kolkata: Approximately 50,000 security personnel, including 361 companies of Central forces, have been deployed to ensure that polling for the sixth and last phase of West Bengal elections is held in a free and fair manner.

A contingent of 4,500 state police personnel, have been deployed to assist the central forces in Coochbehar while 7,500 personnel are in East Midnapore district. Together, the two districts have 25 constituencies going to the hustings on Thursday.

Since the two poll-bound districts are bordering Assam and Odisha, the poll panel has also written to the chief secretaries of the states requesting them to set up ‘Naka’ points in bordering areas, the official said. The Election Commission (EC) has already set up such ‘Naka’ points to monitor the movement of any anti-social elements on the West Bengal side of the inter-state borders.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 in The Code Of Criminal Procedure will be promulgated on poll day and enforced strictly to ensure that any unlawful assembly is effectively curbed. Besides, day-time patrolling for area domination, night patrolling by 183 teams for quick reaction in the night also began from Tuesday.

The commission has so far identified 714 vulnerable hamlets and 1,685 vulnerable voters in the two districts. Close to 900 trouble-mongers have been identified and action taken against all of them. Altogether, about 2,200 complaints were received so far by the poll panel out of which around 2,000 have already been disposed off.

The commission said they have issued clear directions to the district magistrates, superintendents of police and especially the Commanders of CAPF/state police to keep a strict watch on the law and order to ensure that each and every voter, including the weaker sections, feels confident enough to come out and exercise his voting right freely without any fear or pressure.