Deployment of central forces sent ahead of the scheduled Assembly polls has begun in West Bengal, Home Secretary G.D. Gautama said.
Elaborating on this, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S Kar Purkayastha said so far 36 companies of forces have arrived. A total of 100 companies are being sent following the State's request. They will arrive by February-end.
He said that 33 per cent of the forces will be deployed in the Maoist areas. The deployment all over the State would be done based on a vulnerability map. There would be no central forces for Kolkata.
The central forces will be engaged in area-domination, other pre-election duties, and maintaining law and order.
West Bengal had asked for 800 companies of central forces, against the 600 companies during the 2006 Assembly elections in West Bengal. This marks a 33 per cent increase and would be over and above the 41 companies of Central Reserve Police Force currently deployed in the Jangal Mahal.
A 10 per cent increase in the number of booths, the LWE problem, and the increase in political violence had led to the request for more central forces.
Mr. Gautama said the State was hopeful of getting the total contingent as per its request.
