This is an archive article published on February 20, 2021
Explained: Why the EC is sending 125 companies of CAPF to Bengal before poll announcement
By February 25, at least 125 companies of central forces will arrive in West Bengal to maintain law and order during the Assembly election campaign.
Written by Atri Mitra
, Edited by Explained Desk
Kolkata | Updated: March 4, 2021 12:19 PM IST
4 min read
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CRPF personnel arrive at Chitpur railway yard on Saturday. (Express Photo: Partha Paul)
Companies of central security forces will begin arriving in West Bengal this week, ahead of the Assembly elections, dates of which are yet to be announced. By February 25, at least 125 companies will arrive in the state to maintain law and order during the election campaign.
According to Election Commission (EC) officials, there will be 60 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 30 companies of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), 25 companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) and five companies each of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The early despatch of the troops has come as a surprise for the state administration.
Each company — headed by an assistant commandant — has 80 to 100 personnel. The state government has to bear the expenses incurred by the forces sent by the Centre.
The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has sent a detailed deployment strategy to the state administration, and asked that district officials be intimated about the same. He instructed that forces be deployed in all districts of the state.
In the past, a few companies of central forces had been sent to the state for area domination after election dates were declared. About 30 companies were deployed after the dates of the 2016 Assembly polls were declared, and around 40 companies were despatched following the announcement of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
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In this case, the schedule of the election is yet to be declared by the EC.
Sending the CAPF to the state is unprecedented in Bengal’s election history. This could mean the EC is not satisfied with the law and order situation in the state, or it could be a stern message to the state government. It could also mean the EC is not satisfied with the neutrality of the state administration.
Over the past several months, both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP have accused each other of killing their party workers. In the last year, political violence and murder has increased in the state. BJP president J P Nadda’s convoy was recently attacked allegedly by ruling party cadres, and several leaders of Opposition parties were murdered in last six months.
Deployment of a large number of central forces much before the poll dates are announced also hints that the EC may initiate all possible measures to ensure an incident-free election in the state this year.
Sources pointed out that it also gave a clear hint the EC was laying special emphasis on Bengal ahead of the polls. This is because the poll panel has not sent such huge contingents to other election-bound states of Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry or Kerala.
The CAPF is generally deployed for area domination, to build confidence among people in sensitive regions. This year, the EC has sent forces for area domination in all districts of the state, which could mean it is considering all districts of the state to be sensitive in nature.
The EC had earlier hinted that it was keeping a close watch on the law and order situation in Bengal, as it had asked district authorities to revert with detailed reports on a regular basis. The decision to send in central forces at this time could be a response to these reports.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
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