Considering the booth-sensitivity of the six Assembly constituencies going to bypolls next month, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to substantially increase the deployment of Central Police Forces (CAPF) personnel from what was decided initially.
Sources in the office of the West Bengal Chief Electrical Officer (CEO) said that initially it was decided that a total of 89 companies of CAPF would be deployed for the bypolls, the disposition process of which has already been completed for the purpose of area domination.
However, CEO office insiders added, considering the sensitivity of the nature of booths in certain constituencies as well as an appeal from some political forces in the state, the Commission has decided to increase the deployment substantially by 19 companies to a total of 108.
It is learnt that as per the initial distribution of 89 companies, 30 companies were from the Border Security Force (BSF), 24 from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 13 from Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), 12 from Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and 10 from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
“Now five additional companies of CRPF, 10 from BSF and two each for ITBP and CISF will be added to the existing deployment of 89 companies,” a CEO office insider said.
The six Assembly constituencies are scattered over five districts. These are Sitai in Cooch Behar district, Madarihat in Alipurduar, Taldangra in Bankura, Medinipur in West Midnapore district and Haroa and Naihati, the last two being in North 24 Parganas district.
The polling will be on November 13 and the counting on November 23.
All these six Assembly constituencies are going for bypolls, since the erstwhile legislators from there got elected as Lok Sabha members in the general elections this year.
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly constituencies, barring Madarihat, Trinamool Congress candidates got elected from the other five Assembly constituencies.
Assam Police destroy poppy valued at Rs 27.20 crore
After Manipur Police, Assam Police also destroyed 170 Bighas (over 56 acres) of poppy cultivation in the Char areas of Goalpara district, officials said on Sunday.
PM Modi virtually attends Maha Kumbhabhishekam of Jakarta Murugan Temple in Indonesia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually participated in the Maha Kumbhabhishekam ceremony of Shri Sanathana Dharma Aalayam, also known as the Jakarta Murugan Temple, Indonesia's first-ever temple dedicated to Lord Murugan.
Gender Budget allocation increased to 8.86 pc for FY26 in Union Budget
The share of gender budget allocation in the total Union Budget has increased to 8.86 per cent in FY 2025-26 from 6.8 per cent in FY 2024-25.
Maha Kumbh: BSNL provides free SIMs, uninterrupted communication services in Mela area
From providing free SIM cards to ensuring uninterrupted communication services, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is playing a key role in strengthening the communication infrastructure at the Maha Kumbh 2025, it was announced on Sunday.
Drugs worth Rs 10.80 crore seized in Mizoram, 4 held
Despite stringent border vigil, smuggling of drugs from Myanmar into North-east India, the security forces seized drugs worth Rs 10.80 crore and arrested four drug peddlers in Mizoram, officials said here on Sunday.
At Delhi poll rally, PM Modi promises 'Vikas ka naya Basant' for residents
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Delhi is set to witness a "Vikas ka Naya Basant" (New spring of development) after the upcoming Assembly elections, comparing it to the seasonal change brought by Basant Panchami.
Custom duties rationalised in Budget to strengthen India’s economy: FM Sitharaman
The Centre has introduced customs duty rationalisation to ensure that the Indian economy becomes aatmanirbhar (self-reliant), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a post-budget interview with NDTV.
10.23 pc capex hike in Budget 2025-26 shows infrastructure remains a priority: FM Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told NDTV in a post-budget interview that the Government's focus has been on capital expenditure (capex) in the last few years, and now it has also given a huge boost to increasing consumption.