The Election Commission has announced a stringent security plan for the second phase of assembly polls in West Bengal, making it clear that any attempt to disrupt voting or obstruct electors would be dealt with firmly. The EC directed security personnel to carry out constituency-wise deployment and step up area domination exercises in interior lanes and sensitive neighbourhoods to ensure that voters can exercise their franchise without fear.

 

During a high-level coordination meeting, attended by poll officials, senior police officers and commanders of central forces from three election districts under Kolkata, the EC reviewed the preparedness in 142 constituencies that would go to polls on April 29. The meeting was also attended by the Commissioner of Kolkata Police; District Election Officers of Kolkata Uttar, Kolkata Dakshin and South 24 Parganas; returning officers; general and police observers; Special Observer Subrata Gupta; and Special Police Observer N.K. Mishra.

 

Meanwhile, state Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal, who visited Kakdwip in the South 24 Parganas district ahead of the second phase of polling, held a meeting with representatives of various political parties and urged them to encourage voters to participate freely. He said CCTV cameras would be installed at every polling station, central forces would remain deployed at booths, and unauthorised persons would not be allowed within 100 metres of polling premises.