KOLKATA: Nearly six hundred companies of Central paramilitary forces are expected to be deployed during Assembly polls in the three districts of West Bengal where Maoists have a presence. Elections are to be held in five-phases from April 17.

``I have received such an indication from the Election Commission", State's Chief Electoral Officer Debashis Sen, said here on Tuesday.

A heavy deployment of security personnel including the State police was required in areas affected by Maoist insurgency to instil confidence among voters and poll personnel alike, he said.

The law and order situation in the region suffered a setback with the murder of a leader and a worker of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in two separate incidents in West Midnapore and Bankura districts earlier this week. Late last month four persons had died in West Midnapore when a police vehicle was blown up in a landmine explosion. Maoist activists are suspected to have been behind the incidents.

Purulia is the third district where Maoist activists have been active .

Security arrangements were discussed at a meeting between Mr. Sen and senior State officials during the day.

The Election Commission has sought daily reports on the situation in the State . It has also sought an estimate of licensed arms as well as illegal arms and firearms seized by the police prior to the elections.

Director-General of Police S. Awasthi, who is paying a visit to the region admitted in Midnapore earlier in the day the lacunae in the local intelligence network and emphasised the need for strengthening it.

Following a directive from the Election Commission banning poll graffiti on the walls of buildings and other premises, the State Government has decided to remove all the graffiti that have come up on walls so far and will be bearing the costs for this. It had earlier issued a directive extending the West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act 1976 to all districts of the State.

A team of 20 observers which had been sent recently to the State by the Election Commission have completed their tour of the districts and will be returning to the capital where it will submit its report to the Chief Election Commissioner on March 9, Mr. Sen said.

The observers had been sent to oversee the process of updating of electoral rolls in the State.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail