Kolkata, February 21 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) would be deployed even before the announcement of the polling dates and the enforcement of the model code of conduct for the West Bengal elections.
According to a notification issued by the ECI, the deployment of CAPF will be carried out in two phases: the first on March 1, which precedes the announcement of the polling date and the enforcement of the model code of conduct.
The second phase of CAPF deployment will take place on March 10, by which time the polling dates are likely to be announced and the model code of conduct will be in effect.
Indications so far suggest that the ECI is expected to announce the polling days immediately after Holi.
According to the notification, a total of 480 companies will be deployed in these two initial phases on March 1 and March 10, with 240 companies in each phase.
The first phase of 240 companies that will be deployed on March 1 will include 110 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 55 companies of the Border Security Force (BSF), 21 companies of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), 27 companies of the Indo-Tibetan Police Force (ITBP), and 27 companies of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
The second phase of 240 companies that will be deployed on March 10 will include 120 companies of CRPF, 65 companies of BSF, 16 companies of CISF, 20 companies of ITBP, and 19 companies of SSB.
The withdrawal of these 480 companies – that is, the process of removing troops, equipment, or personnel from a specific area – will be communicated in due course, according to the ECI's notification.
The Commission had also directed the West Bengal government to work out the detailed deployment plan, in consultation with the respective CAPFs and their chief force coordinators.
The CRPF will coordinate the movement and deployment, the Commission clarified.