Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata, July 9: Due to the incidents of violence during the Panchayat elections in West Bengal, tensions have escalated between the Mamata government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Even the State Election Commission is now concerned about the violence. Holding the TMC government, including the State Election Commission, responsible for the violence, the BJP has demanded the imposition of President’s rule in Bengal.
Bengal BJP has written a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs demanding intervention. On the other hand, TMC had asked about the deployment of central forces, where were the central forces at the time of violence? Responding to this, the Union Home Ministry has issued a statement.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that there was no violence in the booths where central forces were deployed in the panchayat elections. According to Home Ministry sources, there has been no violence at the booths where CAPFs were deployed. Immediate action was taken on the attempt to spoil the atmosphere. The Home Ministry said that CAPFs should have been deployed at sensitive booths. The CAPF took over the arrangements at the booths where the DMs of the respective districts sent central forces for security.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the State Election Commission had asked for 825 companies of CAPFs out of which 649 companies were sent to the state and due to non-cooperation of the Election Commission, the entire central force could not reach on time. The ministry added that the CAPF Coordinator has written a letter to the State Election Commissioner saying that he was not given the list of sensitive areas/booths. The Home Ministry has said that the State Election Commission sent its demand for deployment of CAPFs late and it takes time to arrange trains and logistics for sending CAPFs. Information about movement and posting of CAPF companies is given by the State Election Commission. On the basis of that, CAPF is deployed.
The State Election Commission (SEC) did not share any information about the deployment, instead, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were directed to consult the District Magistrate (DM) for deployment, which took time. An example was given that companies are sent from the northeast for deployment in North Bengal. However, they had to come to Kolkata first, and then travel for an additional two days to reach North Bengal. There was no clear directive from the State Election Commission, so this happened. Even in the morning meeting, the SEC did not provide any clarity regarding the deployment.
