Centre to Deploy 71,000 Security Personnel on WB Polling Day

Centre has deployed 713 Companies of Central Armed Police Forces as well as State Armed Police for election duties in West Bengal.

(Photo: PTI)

Days before eight constituencies of West Bengal go to the polls on 12 May, the Centre announced that it will deploy 713 Companies of Central Armed Police Forces as well as State Armed Police for election duties, according to an MHA notice. This means that 71,300 security men and women will be deployed.

This step has been taken after previous incidents of violence on and around polling dates, as well as keeping in mind the sensitivity of the Jungle Mahal area, the notice said.

The constituencies going to the polls are Tamluk, Kanthigathal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur.

The MHA notice said that various confidence-building measures such as route marches, long-range patrols and cordon and search operations were also being undertaken in all the eight constituencies.

More steps have been taken to ensure the safety and security of everyone during the polling, such as the deployment of 547 Quick Action Teams (QATs) which have been instructed to be on the move. These QATs have been instructed to take immediate action on receiving a complaint.

To avoid IEDs, forces deployed in the Jungle Mahal area have been told not to move in vehicles. They are also briefed to check all culverts — probable places of planting IEDs — before movement, they said.

Forces deployed in the Jungle Mahal area will be armed adequately and will also be wearing bulletproof jackets, the notice added.