THE CENTRE is planning to deploy 1,200 CAPF companies for the two-phased Bihar polls. So far, the CAPF has deployed at least 500 companies, including 118 for area domination, in the state. A source said the Bihar government is learnt to have sought the deployment of 1,800 CAPF companies to maintain law and order and ensure peaceful voting across the state’s 243 constituencies. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is yet to finalise the total strength that will be sanctioned for election duty. “After discussion, some more companies, reaching up to 1,100-1,200 companies, could be deployed after a final approval from the EC and the MHA,” the source said. The maximum of CAPF companies will be drawn from the SSB. A single CAPF company has an operational strength of about 70-80 personnel. These units will be in addition to the Bihar Police units for poll security.
