Kolkata, April 28: The Election Commission has instructed central forces to be ready to assist anxious voters during the second phase of voting in West Bengal. Their role will be to ensure voter safety and help them reach polling stations.
An insider from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office reported that the first phase of elections on April 23 was conducted peacefully within polling booths. However, some voters expressed concerns about being intimidated while heading to cast their votes.
To mitigate these threats in the second phase, the Election Commission has directed nodal officers to prepare a contingent of central forces. This will allow for immediate assistance to frightened voters, ensuring they can safely reach polling stations.
The focus of the Election Commission is not only on ensuring booth-level security but also on completely eliminating incidents of voter intimidation, particularly in the Diamond Harbour sub-division of South 24 Parganas, which has a history of electoral violence.
According to the CEO insider, if any voter feels threatened on election day, they can contact the CEO’s office through a dedicated helpline number or email. The identity of the complainant will remain confidential.
If necessary, a team of central forces will be dispatched to areas where voters are being intimidated, ensuring their safe passage to polling booths.
Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the CEO of West Bengal, has urged voters in the second phase to cast their votes without fear. He emphasized that their safety is a priority, stating, “We have made all necessary arrangements to fulfill this responsibility.”
The second phase of elections in Bengal will be under the strict security of 2,407 companies of central armed forces, including the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), India Reserve Battalion (IRB), and armed police contingents from other states. Additionally, personnel from Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police will also be deployed.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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