West Bengal polls: 90,000 security personnel deployed in two poll-bound districts

KOLKATA: To pre-empt chances of pre or post poll violence in the fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls, the Election Commission is making heavy security arrangements by deploying around 90,000 personnel in the two poll-bound districts.

Besides 672 companies of central police forces, around 22,000 state police personnel will guard 49 seats spread across North 24 Parganas and Howrah districts polling for which will be held this Monday, sources said.

Keeping in mind the sensitivity of the two districts after a poll preparedness review, the poll panel has made a special intervention in this case.

Route marches for area domination by security forces which normally begin after the campaign ends started since last night.

The EC said they have directed the state election machinery to hold the concerned officials in the areas of poll-related violence accountable and also take strict action against such officials if they show any negligence in taking necessary preventive measures or legal action.

Besides one police observer in each of the districts, two more have been deployed in North 24 Parganas and another one in Howrah.

Besides the regular land patrolling, additional riverine patrolling is also being done.

Section 144 of CrPC, which regulates the assembly of five or more persons in one place, will be enforced strictly in all the constituencies where polling will be held this time.