Election Commission Reveals Deployment of 240 CAPF Companies in Bengal on March 1
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kolkata, Feb 26 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made a significant announcement regarding the deployment of 240 companies from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). This deployment is scheduled to occur on March 1 as preparations intensify for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.
Notably, this marks the first instance where the ECI has opted to send in the CAPF so early, prior to the announcement of polling dates and the implementation of the model code of conduct.
The deployment on March 1 will include 240 companies, with an additional 240 companies set to be dispatched for the second phase on March 10.
As per the notification released by the ECI, the highest concentration of 30 companies will be stationed in the North 24 Parganas district, which borders Bangladesh.
The second-largest deployment will occur in Murshidabad, predominantly populated by minorities, with 16 companies allocated. Following that, both South 24 Parganas and Howrah will each receive 15 companies.
In fourth place, East Midnapore, the home district of Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari, and Hooghly will each host 14 companies.
Additional deployments will see 12 companies each in Malda, Nadia, and the state capital, Kolkata.
Meanwhile, North Dinajpur will have 11 companies, and South Dinajpur will see 10 companies stationed there.
Both Darjeeling and Cooch Behar will receive nine companies each, while East Burdwan will have eight companies. Additionally, West Burdwan, West Midnapore, Birbhum, Bankura, and Jalpaiguri will each host seven companies.
Finally, five companies will be deployed—one each in Purulia, Jhargram, and Alipurduar districts, while Kalimpong will have just three companies.
This first phase deployment of 240 CAPF companies will comprise 110 companies from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 55 companies from the Border Security Force (BSF), 21 companies from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), 27 companies from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and 27 companies from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).