480 companies of central force for Bengal polls

With the election season approaching, an extensive security blueprint has been finalised for West Bengal, providing for the deployment of 480 companies of central armed police forces across the state to maintain law and order and ensure peaceful polling.

The district-wise deployment plan indicates a heavy concentration of forces in districts considered sensitive because of population density, past electoral experience, border proximity, and political significance.

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In several cases, the allocation has been further broken down into police districts (PDs), police commissionerates (PCs), and rural or urban divisions to enable more focused area domination and patrolling.

The highest deployment has been earmarked for North 24-Parganas, which will receive 59 companies, the largest share among all districts.

Within the district, Barrackpore Police Commissionerate has been allotted 19 companies, followed by Basirhat Police District with 17 companies. Barasat PD will receive 11 companies, Bongaon PD has been assigned six, while Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate will get five companies.

Officials indicated that the large-scale deployment reflects the district’s size, urban-rural spread, and its strategic importance ahead of the polls.

East Bardhaman is next on the list with 42 companies.

Of these, 25 companies will be deployed across the district police areas, while 17 companies have been earmarked for the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC), which covers major industrial and urban centres.

The Murshidabad district, which shares an international border and has witnessed intense political activity in the past, will receive 35 companies.

The deployment will be split between Murshidabad Police District with 20 companies and Jangipur Police District with 15 companies.

In South 24-Parganas, 33 companies of central forces will be stationed.

The break-up shows 13 companies for Baruipur PD, 11 companies for Diamond Harbour PD, and nine companies for the Sundarban Police District, which covers remote and riverine areas.

The state capital Kolkata has been allotted 30 companies, underlining the emphasis on securing key urban polling stations, sensitive localities, and high-footfall areas.

Among other districts with significant deployment, East Midnapore will get 28 companies, while Hooghly has been allocated 27 companies, with 16 companies for rural areas and 11 companies for the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate.

Howrah will see the deployment of 21 companies, divided between Howrah PC (10 companies) and Howrah Rural PD (11 companies).

In western West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur and Purulia will receive 20 companies each, Birbhum has been allotted 21 companies, Bankura 13 companies, and Jhargram 11 companies.

Nadia district will get 22 companies, split between Krishnanagar PD (13) and Ranaghat PD (nine). North Dinajpur will receive 19 companies, with 10 companies in Raiganj PD and nine companies in Islampur PD.

Malda has been allotted 18 companies, Cooch Behar 15, Jalpaiguri 10, Darjeeling 11, Alipurduar seven, and Kalimpong four companies. Additionally, Siliguri Police Commissionerate will receive five companies.