The Election Commission of India disclosed the deployment details of 240 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for the upcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal. This marks the first instance of such early deployment by the ECI in the state, preceding the formal announcement of polling dates and the enforcement of the model code of conduct. The initial phase on March 1 will witness the deployment of 240 CAPF companies, with the highest concentration of 30 companies in the North 24 Parganas district along the Bangladesh border.
In the subsequent phase on March 10, another 240 companies will be deployed. The notification from the ECI specified that the Murshidabad district, with a significant minority population, will see the second-highest deployment at 16 companies. Following closely are the South 24 Parganas and Howrah districts, each with 15 companies. Notably, the East Midnapore district, the home turf of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, along with Hooghly, will witness 14 companies each.
Further details of district-wise deployment include 12 companies in Malda, Nadia, and Kolkata, respectively. North Dinajpur will have 11 companies, while South Dinajpur will see 10. Darjeeling and Cooch Behar districts will each have nine companies, with East Burdwan having eight. West Burdwan, West Midnapore, Birbhum, Bankura, and Jalpaiguri districts will each receive seven companies.
Additionally, five companies will be stationed in Purulia, Jhargram, and Alipurduar districts, with only three companies in Kalimpong. The 240 CAPF companies for the initial phase on March 1 will comprise 110 CRPF companies, 55 BSF companies, 21 CISF companies, 27 ITBP companies, and 27 SSB companies.
