The six-member special team sent by the Election Commission (EC) to independently assess the law and order situation in poll-bound West Bengal held a three-hour-long meeting with the District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of 11 districts on Monday through video conferencing.
Led by Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, the team discussed with the DMs and SPs the law and order situation and the steps taken, as well as the preparedness of the administration to tackle the situation at hand.
The other members of the team are B. Shivdhar Reddy, Deputy Inspector-General of Andhra Pradesh's Intelligence Branch, P.S. Ranpaise, Deputy Inspector-General from Orissa, Zaki Ahmed, Deputy Director of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), P.R.K. Naidu, Joint Director of the NCRB, and D.K. Pandey, Jharkhand's Additional Director (Law and Order).
“The team members enquired about reports of political clashes and violence in the districts. They also asked about the status of seizure of illegal arms and the strength of police presence in sensitive areas,” Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Kumar Gupta said.
That the team is focussing on the situation in several areas of south Bengal was apparent from the presence of officials from 11 south Bengal districts, excluding Nadia and Murshidabad.
Mr. Gupta said the team will interact with the district administration and local people as well as political representatives who approach it.
It will also submit a report to the Chief Election Commissioner.
Sources said the team members left for Hooghly district immediately after the meeting and are expected to travel to various districts, either together or as sub-teams, till January 20.
