New Birbhum police chief assures free & fair polls

The Birbhum district police is gearing up to ensure peaceful, free and fair polling across the eleven Assembly constituencies, said newly-appointed Superintendent of Police Surya Pratap Singh. The Election Commission of India recently transferred the previous SP, Amandeep, and appointed the 2011-batch IPS officer in his place.

Conducting peaceful and fair elections has historically been a challenge in Birbhum.

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After assuming charge, Surya Pratap Singh visited several police stations across the district and held a series of review meetings. He also met his counterparts in Dumka, Pakur and Jamtara districts of neighbouring Jharkhand.

Birbhum shares a long and porous inter-state border with these districts. During coordination meetings, it was decided that vehicles would be checked on both sides, illegal firearms seized, and intelligence on suspicious movements of criminals and Maoist activities shared between the districts.

Polling in all 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum is scheduled for 23 April. The Jharkhand –Birbhum border will be sealed on the day.

Addressing the media after taking charge, Surya Pratap Singh said that 19 naka check posts have been set up across the district for vehicle checking. So far, 21 companies of central forces have arrived, with more expected for election duty.

He added that he has prior experience of election duty in Murshidabad and as SDPO of Bolpur, and expressed confidence that the upcoming polls would be conducted without violence. “We will not tolerate any booth capturing and will strictly follow all guidelines laid down by the Election Commission of India. Confidence-building measures, including route marches in sensitive areas, have already begun. Illegal firearms are being seized and operations will continue,” he said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address an election rally in Birbhum on 26 March, while senior BJP leaders are also expected to campaign in the district.

Birbhum has witnessed poll-related violence in the past, prompting strict measures by the Election Commission, including placing Anubrata Mondal under house arrest on polling day during previous elections. However, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the district were conducted peacefully.