Election Commission to Deploy Additional 3,000 Armed Personnel for Bengal Polls
Kolkata: To ensure a peaceful election in West Bengal, the EC has decided to deploy 3,000 armed police personnel from other states, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, complementing the already significant presence of central forces for the first phase of elections scheduled to be held on April 23, a senior official said on Monday.
“Considering the sensitivity of the elections, it has been decided to strengthen the existing forces with around 3,000 armed police personnel from other states. Majority of the additional forces will be drawn from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh,” the official told PTI.
He said staff are expected to begin arriving in the state in phases from April 13.
He said the commission has already planned to deploy 2,400 companies of central forces across the state.
Meanwhile, the EC rejected the plea of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar, who sought removal from the post of newly appointed police watchdog in Tamil Nadu on medical grounds.
Sources said the Commission has directed Sarkar to assume charge by Monday.
Sarkar has been posted as police observer in various constituencies in Tamil Nadu, including Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram, Palayamkottai, Nanguneri and Radhapuram.
“His exemption request was not accepted and he was asked to resume duty immediately,” an official said.
