Heavy security blanket for Bhowanipore bypoll, provisions in place to combat rain – The New Indian Express

Through PTI

KOLKATA: Strict security arrangements were in place at Bhowanipore with the deployment of 15 central forces companies ahead of the Assembly by-election, a senior police official said on Wednesday.

Banning orders under Article 144 of the CrPC have also been imposed within 200m of polling centers where voting will take place on Thursday, he said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is Trinamool’s Congressional candidate for the Bhowanipore by-election in southern Calcutta, while the BJP has lined up Priyanka Tibrewal and Srijib Biswas of CPI (M) is in the fray.

Inside each of the 287 voting booths of 97 polling centers in Bhowanipore, a half-section – three jaws – of the central forces will be deployed.

Kolkata police officers will be responsible for security outside the cabins.

“Gathering of five or more people within 200m of any polling station will not be allowed. A ban has been imposed on anyone carrying stones, weapons, firecrackers and other explosive materials,” he said. Kolkata police said in an order.

Police pickets have been set up at 38 locations across Bhowanipore, the official said.

On election day, 22 sector mobile teams, nine HRFS (Heavy Radio Flying Squad) teams, 13 rapid response teams (QRT), nine teams each from the static surveillance team, the flying squad and an equal number Strike forces from the vicinity of police stations will be deployed, he said.

In addition, three sub-divisional strike forces will also be deployed, he added.

An additional police commissioner along with four joint police commissioners, 14 deputy commissioners and an equal number of deputy commissioners were deployed for the Bhowanipore by-election, the official said.

“We have also opened three additional control rooms. Arrangements will be made for 141 special vehicles to escort the EVMs,” he said.

Two vaults for storing EVMs have been installed at Sakhawat Memorial Govt Girls’ High School on Lord Sinha Road, he said.

All police officers were advised to wear raincoats and umbrellas due to the bad weather conditions in the city.

The election commission also asked the irrigation department to be on alert due to weather conditions here, the official said.

“All polling centers were asked to keep the pumps ready to discharge the flood water. We also asked the irrigation department and the disaster management department to be prepared in case of an emergency due to the heavy floods. precipitation, ”he said.

Strict security arrangements have also been made in Jangipur and Samserganj, where parliamentary elections will take place on Thursday, an election official said.

There are 363 stalls in Jangipur and 329 in Samserganj, he said.

Votes will be counted on October 3.