The Election Commission (EC) has planned to deploy 263 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in three constituencies of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar during the first phase of voting for the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal.

Sources in the EC said that the largest contingent of Central forces (112 companies) will be deployed in Cooch Behar from where sitting BJP MP and Union minister Nisith Pramanik is seeking re-election, while 75 companies will be deployed in Jalpaiguri, and 63 companies in Alipurduar.

At present, 277 companies of Central forces are present in the state, according to officials.

“The tentative plan of deployment of Central forces was taken drawn out during the April 6 meeting in Kolkata which was attended by state Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab, Special Police Observer Anil Kumar Sharma, Special General Observer Alok Sinha, IG (CRPF) BK Sharma, and ADG (Legal) Anand Kumar. Another meeting will be held on April 13, which will be attended by the Chief Election Commissioner, in which the final decision on the exact number of deployment of Central forces will be taken… The Central forces have already started conducting route marches in West Bengal,” said an official in the Election Commission.

Two days ago, the Union Home Ministry directed Central forces to send 100 companies, comprising 10,000 troops, to West Bengal by April 15, with 25 of these companies being diverted from strife-torn Manipur.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA’s) directions came after the EC asked it to step up security in West Bengal to ensure fair Lok Sabha elections, citing violence in previous polls.

“Fifty-five companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 45 companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been directed to reach West Bengal by April 15,” an official said.

The first phase of elections in Bengal will be held on April 19. Voting in West Bengal is set to take place in all seven phases from April 19 to June 1. West Bengal has 42 Lok Sabha Lok Sabha seats.