Central forces conduct route marches across several districts, sensitive zones under watch
Times of India | 1 March 2026
Kolkata: Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) began route marches across several Bengal districts on Saturday hours before the Election Commission published the state's voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of poll rolls.
Route marches were carried out in Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia, Jhargram and Darjeeling.
In Murshidabad, central forces are camping at Suti, Shamsherganj and Beldanga. Nearly a sixth of voters whose status was marked "under adjudication" in the rolls is from Murshidabad, numbering over 10 lakh.
The district has witnessed episodes of violence in the past two months. With tensions running high, central forces patrolled several parts of Murshidabad on Saturday.
In Nadia, forces patrolled Nakashipara, Chapra, Dhubulia and Tehatta in the Krishnanagar police district, and Ranaghat, Shantipur, Chakdah and Haringhata — areas considered sensitive because of a high concentration of Matua voters — in the Ranaghat Police District.
Central forces also marched through Jhargram's Lalgarh and Binpur. An official said more forces are expected in the district ahead of Holi.
In Darjeeling, SP Pratiksha Jharkharia said area domination exercises were carried out along the Phansidewa route. "Three companies from Sikkim and two from Jalpaiguri have arrived and one from Bihar is on the way," the SP said. In Jalpaiguri, patrols will begin on Sunday. DM Shama Parveen said seven companies were deployed for seven assembly seats.
At least 30 companies of CAPF are expected in North 24 Parganas, with the highest deployment in Barrackpore.
"Nine companies of central forces will be deployed in the Barrackpore commissionerate. Forces are expected on Sunday, after which route marches will begin," said Barrackpore police commissioner Praveen Tripathi.
(With inputs from Sanjib Chakraborty in Kolkata, Ashis Poddar in Kalyani, Sukumar Mahato in Berhampore and Roshan Gupta in Siliguri)