The Union home ministry has ordered the withdrawal of nine CRPF companies of the existing 24 posted in Jungle Mahal districts to send them to five Assembly poll-bound states, including Uttar Pradesh.

Four companies of the CRPF have been withdrawn from Jhargram, three from Purulia and one each from Bankura and Birbhum.

The decision has raised eyebrows of several senior police officers as Maoist activities have been reported in some parts of the Jungle Mahal. “Nine out of 24 companies of the CRPF in the Jungle Mahal have been released for polls in five states. They will return after the poll process is over. There are 35 companies in Bengal. Other than the nine in the Jungle Mahal, the Centre is also withdrawing six companies of the CRPF from other parts of Bengal,” said a CRPF source.

Polling in the five states begins on February 10 and ends with counting on March 10. “Even after polls are over, security personnel are retained for a few more days to take care of the post-poll situation,” a CRPF official said.

Senior police officers in the Bengal government said earlier companies were withdrawn for several reasons but not in such numbers when increased Maoist activities were being reported from Jungle Mahal districts such as Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram and West Midnapore.

On Republic Day, Maoist posters were found in Purulia and Bankura. Bankura police arrested three persons for alleged links with a banned organisation. “It is a challenge for us to manage with such a gap (in personnel) at a time when we needed better patrolling in Jungle Mahal. However, we will depute state police force in those pockets from where the CRPF companies have been withdrawn,” said a senior police officer in a Jungle Mahal district.