Kolkata: Senior police officials have started intensive visits to police stations across West Bengal from Sunday as the Election Commission stepped up its scrutiny of poll preparedness and security arrangements in the poll-bound state to ensure a free, fair and violence-free atmosphere.
Following directions from the Election Commission, police commissioners and district police heads are visiting police stations under their charge to personally assess arrangements and to oversee preparations for crowd management, protection of polling premises and swift handling of complaints related to electoral offences, according to an official in the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
The state police have also been told to make it clear that any attempt to disturb peace, influence voters through intimidation or obstruct polling staff will invite immediate and firm legal action.
Among the measures include enhanced patrolling in vulnerable pockets, area domination exercises, close coordination with central forces to be deployed in the state, and readiness to respond quickly to any report of malpractice such as attempts at booth capturing or organised intimidation near polling stations.
The Election Commission has been holding regular meetings with top state officials, including the Chief Secretary, senior Home Department officers, the Director General of Police and the Chief Electoral Officer, to assess the evolving situation and fine-tune security and administrative plans.
Police observers appointed by the Commission will keep track of developments on the ground and can suggest changes in deployment or postings if they find shortcomings, officials said.
Voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is scheduled to take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes fixed for May 4.
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