Air surveillance to ensure West Bengal poll security

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Kolkata: Three helicopters are conducting aerial surveillance of the Maoist-affected districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura as part of security measures for the final round of West Bengal assembly polls to be held in these areas today, an official said.

"Two helicopters were conducting surveillance in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura from May 5 and one more was deployed from Monday morning," state Joint Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu Sarkar said.

A total of 14 constituencies go to polls today in the sixth and final round.

According to Election Commission (EC) sources, 617 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in the three districts, apart from 41 companies of central forces which are permanently deployed in the three districts to tackle the Maoist rebels.

Around 26,000 state police personnel have also been deployed on election duty in the constituencies.

More than 2.6 million electors are eligible to cast their votes at 3,534 polling booths in this round.

Patrolling

The inter-state and inter-district borders have been sealed and security personnel have been asked to conduct checking and patrolling on all roads leading to polling booths, said Sarkar.

"High frequency satellite phones will be used in many polling booths located in Ayodhya Hills in Purulia, where network connectivity is a major problem," he added.

 
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