Centre to deploy 713 companies of CAPF on election duty in 8 West Bengal constituencies going to polls in Phase 6 of Lok Sabha elections

Three days ahead of polling in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, the Centre has issued a notice deploying 713 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CRPF) and State forces on the election duty in the eight seats that are going to polls. 

A total of 602 Coys of Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, BSF, CISF, SSB, ITBP, RPF, RAF) and 111 Coys & State Armed Police have been deployed for the election duties to eight constituencies of West Bengal (Tamluk, Kanthigathal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura & Bishnupur) on May 12.

The notice further states that various confidence-building measures like route marches, Long Range Patrols, cordon and search Ops are being undertaken in all the eight constituencies to instil confidence among the voters on the polling day in the state. 

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The move has been taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls in the Lok Sabha constituencies so that the voters can vote without fear.

"All these measures are being taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful Polls and also to encourage, motivate voters to go to Polling station to cast their votes without any fear," the notice reads. 

The notice has further asserted the forces to be on high alert during the movement of polling parties to and from the booths:

"It is generally observed that Polling parties come under attack either during going towards the both of while coming back. To be on high alert during these two movements," it read.

Notably, it has been observed that the previous five phases of the General Elections in West Bengal have witnessed violence in several constituencies. Furthermore, earlier on Wednesday, senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma and Dilip Ghosh's convoy was attacked in West Bengal's Khejuri by alleged Trinamool workers. BJP had taken the matter of violence in the state to the Election Commission wherein it had urged the poll body to deploy Central forces in the region amid the polls to avoid further violent activities. 

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