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Bengal Phase 2: North 24 Parganas Gets Highest CAPF Deployment

The second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections will cover 142 constituencies across six districts and Kolkata on April 29. A total of 2,348 companies of central forces will be deployed, with North 24 Parganas receiving the highest number at 507 companies. The Election Commission has appointed 142 general observers and 95 police observers to ensure free and fair polling. Officials stated that security has been tightened based on past violence records and the presence of international borders.

Key Points: Bengal Phase 2 Polls: North 24 Parganas Top CAPF Security

  • 142 constituencies across 6 districts and Kolkata to vote on April 29
  • North 24 Parganas gets highest CAPF deployment (507 companies)
  • 2,348 companies of central forces deployed in total
  • 142 general observers and 95 police observers to monitor polls
2 min read

Bengal phase 2 polls: North 24 Parganas to see highest CAPF deployment

142 Assembly seats in 6 districts & Kolkata vote April 29. North 24 Parganas sees highest CAPF deployment with 507 companies.

"The distribution of central forces has been made on the basis of the number of critical or hyper-sensitive booths in the respective districts - CEO insider"

Kolkata, April 25

A total of 142 Assembly constituencies spread across six districts and the state capital Kolkata will go to the polls in the second phase of the two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal on April 29 under a blanket security cover, with 2,348 companies of central forces to be deployed, including the Central Armed Police Forces, India Reserve Battalion and armed police units from other states.

The highest deployment of central forces will be in North 24 Parganas district with 507 companies, followed by South 24 Parganas with 409 companies.

Hooghly district will see the third-highest deployment at 344 companies, followed by Nadia at 285.

East Burdwan district and Kolkata will each witness the deployment of 273 companies of central forces on polling day.

The lowest deployment of central forces will be in Howrah district, adjacent to Kolkata, with 257 companies.

These central forces will be in addition to personnel from Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police.

"The distribution of central forces has been made on the basis of the number of critical or hyper-sensitive booths in the respective districts, determined from records of poll-related violence in previous elections and other factors such as the presence of international borders with Bangladesh," said an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal.

Polling in the second phase on April 29 will be conducted under the close monitoring of 142 general observers (one per Assembly constituency) and 95 police observers.

The first phase of Assembly polls for 152 constituencies was conducted under the supervision of 84 police observers. On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the appointment of 11 additional police observers, all from other states.

"ECI's biggest challenge is to ensure that the election is free, fair and violence-free. The first phase of voting was overall peaceful. There were no reports of major violence. The ECI also said there was no need for re-polling in any of the booths across the 152 constituencies that went to polls in the first phase. The Commission is particularly cautious about the second phase, and security has been further tightened," the CEO's office insider added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sneha F
I'm from Howrah and it's surprising to see the lowest deployment here at 257 companies. But given the history of violence in some other districts, maybe it makes sense to focus more on border areas. Just hope everyone can vote without fear. Jai Hind šŸ‡®šŸ‡³
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Alexander G
Impressive logistical planning by the ECI. The criteria based on hyper-sensitive booths and international borders seems pragmatic. It's good to hear the first phase was relatively peacefulā€”let's hope the same for phase 2.
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Shreya B
As a Bengali living outside the state, I'm glad to see so many observers and police from other states being brought in. It reduces chances of local biases. But I wish we didn't need so many forces in the first placeā€”should be about issues, not violence. šŸ—³ļø
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Mohan T
Madhyamik poriksha-r moto ei baar election-o shanti hoye jawyak! The ECI's caution is understandable given the past. But I do worry about voter intimidation still happening in some pockets despite the security. Let's see. šŸ™
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Joseph A
Interesting that the lowest deployment is in Howrah, which is adjacent to Kolkata. I guess that area has fewer sensitive booths. The emphasis on districts bordering Bangladesh makes sense from a security perspective. Good reporting.

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