Unprecedented Security: 2.4 Lakh CAPFs to Guard Bengal Polls Amid Violence Fears
Mumbai: Amid heightened law and order concerns in poll-bound West Bengal, the Election Commission of India has decided to deploy a record 2.4 lakh personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to ensure smooth and violence-free elections.
This marks the highest-ever deployment of central forces in a single state during an election, underscoring the Commission’s strong focus on maintaining peace and fairness in the electoral process. The move comes in response to security concerns and past instances of poll-related unrest.
According to officials, the Commission has also drawn up an extensive post-poll security strategy. Around 500 companies of CAPFs will remain stationed in the state even after the counting of votes on May 4 to prevent any outbreak of violence. Each company typically consists of 90 to 125 personnel.
Officials said the decision is influenced by previous incidents of post-poll violence during earlier Assembly elections in the state, prompting the need for continued vigilance even after polling concludes.
In addition, nearly 200 companies of CAPFs will be specifically tasked with safeguarding electronic voting machines (EVMs), strong rooms, and counting centres. These forces will remain deployed until the entire counting process is completed.
Polling in the state will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results scheduled to be announced on May 4.
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