The Kolkata Police is conducting a security audit of the State Election Commission office in Kolkata in collaboration with the Public Works Department (PWD) and other relevant departments, police sources indicate.
The State Election Commission office relocated to the new Shipping Corporation building prior to the Bengal assembly elections. Offices of senior officials of the poll body, including the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the Additional CEO, are located on the third floor of this building. The office also stores sensitive election-related data and documentation.
Central forces, alongside the police, were previously deployed to secure the Commission’s office. After the change in government in the state, officials from the Kolkata Police’s Detective Department have chalked out plans to further beef up its security.
The Kolkata police headquarters is now reviewing these security measures, with the Detective Department assessing how to make the security arrangements even more robust.
According to sources from the Kolkata police headquarters, while police currently guard the area outside the officials’ chambers, intelligence officers are evaluating where additional personnel should be deployed. They are also determining the required number of police officers and armed personnel that might be needed.
There is also a strong emphasis on increasing CCTV coverage. It has been planned to install CCTV cameras throughout the building, covering the ground floor (both the interior and exterior) and the interior of the State Election Commission office, to ensure every area remains under police surveillance.
In addition to these measures, a review is underway regarding how to enhance police security outside the Commission’s premises. The Public Works Department will collaborate with the police in this effort. PWD officials will also assess the routing for cables and wiring.
Police officials are also accessing whether to implement stricter controls on entry into the poll body’s office. Since the Shipping Corporation building houses various other offices, a large number of people visit the premises. The police have stated that they are taking measures to prevent unauthorised individuals from entering the premises of the building without a valid reason.