HC directs Bengal, city police to give security during KMC polls

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the state police force and the Kolkata Police to provide security for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections on December 19.

The court declined the BJP's prayer for the deployment of CAPF for the KMC polls.

Following this single bench verdict, the BJP Bengal unit moved a division bench later on Thursday, challenging the verdict.


Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the HC rejected the BJP's plea and ordered the Kolkata Police to look into all complaints during the election process. The court directed the police to provide additional security to the four contesting candidates, if necessary, before the election date after reviewing the complaints lodged by them. The HC also directed the Commissioner of Kolkata Police to ensure appropriate security arrangements were made to ensure free and fair polls.

Sisir Bajoria, a senior BJP leader, said, "We have moved the division bench as CAPF is a necessity."

Trinamool minister Firhad Hakim said, "Trinamool national general secretary Abhisek Banerjee has assured that voting will be free and fair."