LS polls: EC to deploy Central Forces at all WB booths

Following incidents of violence in the fourth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission has decided to replace state police force with Central Forces at all polling booths in West Bengal for the remaining three phases.

Kolkata:After numerous instances of violence were reported in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, the Election Commission has decided to deploy only central forces in all booths in the remaining three phases in the state.

Eight parliamentary constituencies -- Baharampur, Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, Burdwan East, Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur and Birbhum -- voted in the fourth phase of general elections.

"The fourth-phase election in West Bengal was more or less peaceful except for small incidents. In the next phase probably there would be 100 per cent central force coverage of the polling stations," state Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab had told reporters yesterday.

He revealed that there could be around 580 companies of central forces in the next phase. The final deployment would be gradually shared.

Clashes erupted between BJP and TMC workers in Nalhati city in Birbhum district. During the scuffle, a BJP supporter sustained an injury on his head.

Security forces resorted to lathi-charge at a polling station in Asansol parliamentary constituency after clashes erupted between TMC and BJP supporters over allegations of electoral malpractices.

There were reports of altercations between supporters of TMC, BJP and CPI (M) from several polling booths in the constituency.

BJP Asansol candidate Babul Supriyo had an altercation with polling officers and TMC cadres at a booth, alleging that supporters of Mamata Banerjee-led party were capturing polling stations and not letting voters to cast their ballot.

Read: Sporadic incidents of post poll violence in Bengal