Bengal assembly polls: EC directs police to map sensitive pockets, plans massive CAPF deployment

With the Assembly elections in West Bengal scheduled later this year, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the state police to expedite the identification of sensitive pockets across the state, preferably by the second week of March.

Once the state police identify sensitive pockets, the Commission will plan the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), considering the level of sensitivity in different areas.

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Deployment of 480 companies of CAPF

The ECI has already decided to deploy CAPF personnel in the state even before the announcement of polling dates and the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

A total of 480 companies of CAPF will be deployed in the state by March 10. Around 240 of these companies will be stationed on March 1, while the remaining 240 companies will be deployed on March 10.

The central observers appointed by the ECI in West Bengal will supervise the process of CPAF deployment and submit daily reports to the Commission, said sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal.

The first phase of deployment on March 1 will comprise 110 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 55 companies of the Border Security Force (BSF), 21 companies of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), 27 companies of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and 27 companies of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

In the second phase on March 10, 120 companies of the CRPF, 65 companies of the BSF, 16 companies of the CISF, 20 companies of the ITBP, and 19 companies of the SSB will be deployed.

The de-induction of these 480 companies, involving the process of removing troops, equipment, or personnel from a specific area, will be communicated in due course of time, officials added.