KOLKATA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday sought a status report in connection with its directives to withdraw government-provided security cover for political leaders with criminal antecedents from West Bengal police administration as the state is all set to go for polling on April 23 and 29.
The ECI, in its directives to the nodal officers of West Bengal Police (WBP), has asked to send compliance report by noon, following the expiry of its deadline—Thursday midnight—for withdrawing such security coverage.
Leaders, who have been granted bails or are out of jails on parole cutting across their political affiliations, won’t be given security coverage by the state government from now.
The ECI had directed the district magistrates (DMs) cum district election officers (DEOs) and superintendents of police across districts in the state to lift the existing ‘unnecessary’ security coverage for these leaders facing criminal cases.
It had also directed that security cover would also be withdrawn for leaders who have been enjoying such privileges considering their portfolios and so-called threat perceptions.
Besides these directives, the Commission has also asked police administrations in the state to nab those persons who are accused in non-bailable cases within 10 days.
Alongside, the ECI has directed both the state police and Kolkata Police to expedite disposal of poll-related criminal cases from previous elections.
Senior field officers—including sub-division police officers (SDPOs) and deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) — have been tasked with preparing lists of absconding accused and launching targeted raids to apprehend them.
Station-level officers have been instructed to identify crime-prone pockets, track history-sheeters, and curb potential poll-related violence.
The Commission has also sought clarifications from the state director general of police (DGP) Siddh Nath Gupta on so many leaders and workers belonging to the ruling Trinamool Congress get state-provided security cover. Gupta has been asked to submit report in this regard within two or three days, ECI sources said.
Around 2,185 policemen are engaged for security cover for around 832 Trinamool Congress leaders and workers and nearly 140 supporters of the ruling party much the poll dates in Bengal are announced.
“Why do the ruling party leaders require so many state police personnel for the security? DGP has been asked to submit report considering the issue impartially and professionally,” sources said requesting anonymity.
The commission has also emphasised the need to ensure security for all political campaign activities, regardless of party, and to safeguard personnel engaged in election duties.
After scrutinising reports of violence related to deletions of adjudicated voters from supplementary lists prepared by judicial officers the commission has also decided to extend deployment of central armed paramilitary forces (CAPF) after announcement of counting of elections on 4 May in the state.
Violence had erupted in parts of the state following the 2021 assembly elections, which saw the ruling Trinamool Congress return to power for a third consecutive term.
Within 24 hours of the results, at least a dozen people were reported killed in post-poll political clashes, with the toll believed to be higher than the casualties recorded during the month-long election process.
In addition to the extended deployment, 200 companies of CAPFs will remain stationed in the state to secure electronic voting machines (EVMs), strong rooms, and counting centres until the completion of the counting process, according to the ECI sources.