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ECI Deploys Expert Videographers in Bengal's 'Shadow Zones' for Poll Integrity

The Election Commission of India has appointed expert videographers to record the entire polling process at booths in 'shadow zones'—areas with poor mobile and internet connectivity in West Bengal. These videographers will be protected by central armed police forces to prevent disruption. A total of 625 such zones have been identified, primarily in remote hilly and forested regions where past malpractices like booth jamming and voter intimidation were reported. The recorded footage will be periodically transmitted to control rooms and used by observers to decide if re-polling is necessary.

Key Points: ECI Appoints Videographers for Bengal Polls in Shadow Zones

  • Expert videographers to record full polling process
  • 625 identified 'shadow zones' with poor connectivity
  • Videographers escorted by central armed police
  • Footage reviewed for potential re-poll decisions
  • Focus on remote hilly and forested areas
3 min read

Bengal polls: ECI-appointed expert videographers to record polling proceedings at booths in 'shadow zones'

Election Commission deploys expert videographers with CAPF escort to record proceedings in Bengal's low-connectivity 'shadow zones' to curb malpractices.

"maximum instances of election malpractices... have been reported from the polling booths coming under these 'shadow zones' - CEO's office insider"

Kolkata, April 18

Expert videographers on Saturday were specially appointed by the Election Commission of India to video-record the poll proceedings from the beginning to the end at the polling booths coming under 'shadow zones' for the crucial two-phase Assembly polls in West Bengal scheduled later this month.

As per the ECI's definition, the "shadow zones" have been identified due to poor mobile network and Internet connectivity, which at times makes it extremely difficult for the Commission to ensure effective online surveillance of the polling process there.

Insiders from the Commission said that the ECI-appointed professional videographers will be escorted by central armed police force (CAPF) personnel so that the videography process cannot be disrupted by anti-social elements backed by influential vested interests.

The Commission had also decided to make arrangements so that the videography contents recorded by the videographers can be periodically sent online from any nearby "non-shadow zone" to the district control-rooms at the offices of the district magistrates, also the district electoral officers, and the central control room at the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Kolkata.

On the basis of the scrutiny of the videography contents by the ECI-appointed observers, the Commission will decide whether there will be re-polling in any booth coming under the "shadow zones" or not.

An insider from the West Bengal CEO's office said that, prima facie, a total of 625 "shadow zones" have been identified by the Commission.

"In the first phase of polling on April 23, these shadow zones are mainly in the remote hilly terrains in the two hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, and the tribal-dominated Jangalmahal areas scattered over Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore, and Jhargram districts. In the first phase of polling on April 23, these shadow zones are mainly in the thickly forested zones in the Sunderbans areas in South 24 Parganas district," the CEO's office insider said.

He also added that ground-level reports accumulated by the Commission had suggested that in the last few elections, maximum instances of election malpractices like booth jamming, source jamming, and voter intimidation within the polling booths have been reported from the polling booths coming under these "shadow zones".

On Friday, the Commission announced that the number of counting centres for the forthcoming two-phase elections in West Bengal later this month has been reduced to 87 from 90 in 2016 and 108 in 2021.

Of the 87 counting centres, the maximum will be in South 24 Parganas with 12, followed by 8 in North 24 Parganas and 6 in Hooghly. The least will be for Kalimpong, Alipurduar, and Jhargram with one each.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good move! It's sad that even in 2024 we have 'shadow zones' due to poor connectivity. The focus on Jangalmahal and Sunderbans is telling. These areas need development, not just election-time surveillance. But for now, ensuring a clean vote is priority. 👍
R
Rahul R
Respectfully, while the intent is good, I'm concerned about the implementation. 625 zones is a lot to cover. Who will check all that footage? And will it be made public for transparency? The ECI must ensure this doesn't become just a paperwork exercise.
S
Sarah B
Interesting read. The use of "vested interests" and "anti-social elements" points to a serious underlying issue. Sending footage from non-shadow zones is a clever workaround for the connectivity problem. Hope this deters malpractice effectively.
A
Aman W
Finally! Booth capturing and voter intimidation in these remote areas has been an open secret for years. The involvement of central forces is key. Let's hope this brings some much-needed accountability. Jai Hind!
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Nisha Z
The reduction in counting centres is also noteworthy. Fewer centres might mean better security and monitoring. But will it cause inconvenience to candidates and agents traveling to them? Overall, seems ECI is trying to plug loopholes. Good.

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