The Election Commission of India has decided to deploy 22 companies of central forces additionally ahead of the second phase of the polling in Darjeeling, Raiganj and Balurghat Lok Sabha constituencies on April 26.

With this additional deployment, the total number of forces stationed in the state will reach 299 companies.

According to sources in the commission, out of the total central forces allocated in the state, 272 companies will be tasked with overseeing 5,298 polling stations in the three constituencies where 5113339 people will exercise their franchise. Six companies will be stationed in the three constituencies which will go to the polls in the first phase on Friday.

The remaining 21 companies will be allocated to uphold law and order in the remaining constituencies of the state.

“The 22 companies of central forces sanctioned by the Election Commission of India are likely to reach the state on April 21. The force will come from Meghalaya and Sikkim and so we need to make additional arrangements so that there is no communication problem,” a senior official at the CEO’s office said.

According to sources within the CEO office, South Dinajpur is set to receive 73 sanctioned companies of central forces, followed by Raiganj police district with 60 companies. Moreover, both Darjeeling and Islampur police districts will each receive 51 companies. Additionally, the commission plans to deploy 21 companies at Siliguri police commissionerate and 16 at Kalimpong.

“The deployment has been made considering the vulnerability of districts and the sensitivity of the areas. So, 111 companies of central forces (Raiganj 60 companies and Islampur 51 companies) have been deployed only in North Dinajpur district, 88 companies have been deployed in Darjeeling (Darjeeling 51 companies, Siliguri PC 21 companies and Kalimpong 16 companies) and the rest of the 73 companies have been deployed in South Dinajpur district,” the official said.

The commission has further decided to dispatch three companies of central forces to safeguard the strong rooms, while an additional three companies have been assigned to uphold post-poll law and order in the three constituencies slated for elections in the initial phase on April 19th.

“The commission has also decided to allocate three companies each to Malda and Murshidabad, and two companies to Jangipur, which are scheduled for elections in the third and fourth phases. Additionally, one company will be deployed in each of the remaining districts. These forces will primarily oversee the maintenance of law and order,” stated the official.

Presently there are 277 companies in the state of which 263 companies are being deployed to man 5,814 polling stations that are going for the polls in the first phase scheduled on April 19. Earlier, the commission had requested the home ministry to sanction 920 companies of central forces to conduct elections in Bengal. Out of this, 150 companies were deployed to the state even before the elections were officially announced.