Elaborate security arrangement by EC for polls in Junglemahal

Two helicopters have been kept on standby for the three LWE affected districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia from May 5 to 8 along with medical support teams, to facilitate movement of security or polling personnel or convert helicopters to air-ambulances on emergencies, Roy Chowdhury said.

To improve communication in Junglemahal’s shadow zones, 10 satellite (SAT) phones have already been installed, he said. Facing criticism for not “consulting candidates while identifying sensitive booths”, the EC, which is already under pressure due to the spate of violence in the third phase of polls, has decided to bring about a change in the way it identifies such booths and then deploy central forces accordingly.

“At the district level, deployment of forces will be finalised following discussion with the DM, SP, General Observer, Police Observer and the candidates,” he said.

“At the state level the deployment of forces will be finalised by the Special Observer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, CEO Sunil Gupta, and the ADG (Law and Order),” Roy Chowdhury said.

Following complaints of terror and rigging, the election commission had issued a notification that the primary responsibility of security at polling stations be handed over to central force.

Sources said the entry and exit of polling agents at poll stations, and their security would be taken care of by central force. The polling stations, which would not be covered by central forces, would be covered either by digital camera, video camera or webcasting.

The EC would also maintain an extensive media watch with continuous screening of incidents from six major news channels, Roy Chowdhury said, adding the fourth phase polls in the state’s six parliamentary constituencies would be directly monitored by six general observers, six expenditure observers and four police observers, besides a large number of micro observers.
Webcasting has been arranged for 177 polling stations in this phase.

The EC has also reduced polling time in LWE affected Assemblies of Jhargram, Binpur and Bandwan under Jhargram parliamentary constituency, and Balarampur, Baghmundi and Jaypur under Purulia parliamentary constituency by two hours, the OSD said adding “While polling in other parts would be held from 7 AM to 6 PM, polling process in LWE areas will end at 4 PM for security reasons.”