Again,poll panel to raise security with HC

Late on Friday,state election commissioner Meera Pandey had held discussions on the matter with barrister Samaraditya Pal,who argued for the SEC in the Calcutta High Court,.

On May 14,a Division Bench,headed by Chief Justice Arun Mishra,had given guidelines to the state government about deployment of security forces for panchayat poll. In that order it was stated that “the state government has also to undertake in case of any shortfall to requisition the police force as may be necessary from central or other states,as may be considered appropriate by the state government.’’

Following the High Court ruling,the SEC on May 27 issued a notification for holding the panchayat elections,the nomination process of which began on May 29.

Another issue — over controlling the police and administration during the panchayat poll — may also be raised before the high court.

Earlier,the SEC had informed the High Court that a total of 300 companies of central forces would be required from the date of nomination. The state government,which failed to arrange any additional forces from outside the state,has recently written to the Centre for forces.

In the first phase of polling,a total 118000 of security forces,with the state claiming that it is facing a shortfall of 70,000.

Meanwhile,the SEC has also brought to the notice of the state government the violence in different districts during filing of nomination papers.

The SEC had also today sought a meeting with state home secretary Basudeb Banerjee to discuss the security issue. Banerjee reportedly did not turn up at the SEC office. Instead,he held a meeting through video-conference with the SPs of various districts over the law and order situation.