Highest CAPF deployment for Phase-V in West Bengal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 15

Learning a lesson from the fourth phase, the Election Commission has decided to deploy 853 companies of central forces for the fifth phase when 45 constituencies spread across six districts will go to polls on April 17. This will be the highest force concentration in this election, outnumbering the fourth phase when the commission deployed 789 companies for 44 constituencies.

According to sources in the poll panel, of the total 853 companies, 283 would be deployed in North 24 Parganas district with 107 companies in Basirhat police district, 61 in Barrackpore police commissionerate, 46 in Bidhannagar police commissionerate and 69 in Barasat police district.

In addition to this, the EC has decided to deploy 68 companies in Darjeeling, 112 in Jalpaiguri, 21 in Kalimpong, 151 in Nadia district, 155 in East Burdwan district and

53 in Darjeeling district, the sources said.

On April 17, of the 45 seats in six districts 16 fall in North 24 parganas district, 8 each in Nadia East Burdwan districts, 7 in Jalpaiguri district, 5 in Darjeeling and 1 in Kalimpong district.

“Voting will take place at 15,789 booths spread across 45 constituencies in six districts. Each booth will have six personnel. The aim is to avoid Cooch Behar like incidents,” a senior official said.

Increased deployment of central forces is possible as 200 more companies are reaching West Bengal after the end of Assam elections, taking the total availability of CAPF in the state to 1,071 companies.

“Now with 853 companies guarding polling booths, the remaining 218 will be mainly deployed at strongrooms and maintaining the law-and-order situation in the non-polling areas,” the official said.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.