Kolkata, March 17 Newly appointed Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand stated on Tuesday that the force is "determined" to ensure free and fair elections within its jurisdiction during the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections next month.
Following the announcement of the assembly poll schedule on Sunday, the Election Commission removed Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar on March 16 and appointed Nand in his place. The poll panel also shifted the state's top bureaucratic and police leadership, including the chief secretary and the DGP.
Asked about the EC's repeated assurance of ensuring free and fair elections in the state, which has seen election-related violence in past elections, Nand said, "We are determined... this is our responsibility."
Nand said that all necessary steps will be taken.
Maintaining that it also depends on the top brass of the police force, he said, "As the police commissioner, I must provide the force with leadership, all necessary logistical support, protect them from any undue pressure, and provide strategic guidance."
The commissioner said that 30 companies of central forces have already been deployed in the Kolkata Police jurisdiction.
Maintaining that there is "seamless coordination" between the central forces and the local police, the commissioner said that nodal officers are in place to ensure this.
"Meetings are taking place every day; it is a massive undertaking," he said.
Nand said that the system has been streamlined to ensure a quick response to any kind of incident in any part of the city.
The new police commissioner said that he would not fail to provide leadership, asserting, "This is a commitment to myself."
He said that the process of searches and raids for the recovery and seizure of illegal arms and ammunition before the elections is being carried out as per norms.
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases – on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.