Kolkata, 11 March (H.S.) : The Election Commission of India has directed the West Bengal administration to mandatorily complete the first phase of route marches and area domination exercises by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in all districts of the state by 8 p.m. on March 14.

According to sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the Commission has made it clear that the exercise must be conducted in each of the state’s 294 Assembly constituencies within the stipulated deadline.

Sources said that a total of 480 companies of CAPF have already arrived in West Bengal in two phases. The Commission has also completed the district-wise deployment of these companies.

Meanwhile, the Commission has decided to appoint retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta as the Central Observer for the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. He had earlier been serving as the Acting Special Roll Observer for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls.

The CEO’s office said the Commission was satisfied with Gupta’s performance during the revision process, which led to his appointment as Central Observer for the upcoming polls.

At the same time, the Commission has sought details of the officers-in-charge of police stations in districts that witnessed large-scale post-poll violence after the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election.

The information has been sought from the Acting Director General of West Bengal Police, Piyush Pandey. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has also asked for details of the immediate senior officers supervising those police station heads during that period.

The Commission believes that ensuring robust security arrangements and administrative accountability ahead of the elections is essential for conducting free and fair polls.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh