2,321 central forces companies to be deployed in Bengal second phase, Kolkata gets 273

The Election Commission of India has announced the deployment of 2,321 companies of central forces for the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled on April 29. This large-scale security arrangement comes after 2,407 companies were deployed in the first phase, underlining the continued emphasis on maintaining law and order during polling. Each company consists of at least 72 personnel, as per Union Home Ministry guidelines, ensuring strong ground-level presence across constituencies.

Among all districts, North 24 Parganas has received the highest allocation with 507 companies, marking it as the most security-sensitive zone in this phase. Within the district, Barrackpore will have 160 companies, Basirhat 123, Barasat 112, Bongaon 62, and Bidhannagar 50 companies. South 24 Parganas has also received significant deployment, with Baruipur, Diamond Harbour, and Sundarbans areas collectively receiving heavy coverage to ensure booth-level security.

Kolkata, the state capital, will see deployment of 273 companies across 5,172 polling booths. Key divisions such as Howrah Rural and Howrah Police Commissionerate have been assigned 147 and 110 companies respectively, reflecting a balanced urban-rural security approach. In Nadia district, Krishnanagar and Ranaghat police districts together account for 285 companies, while Hooghly has also received substantial coverage across rural and commissionerate zones.

In industrial and semi-urban regions, Purba Bardhaman has been allocated 260 companies for 4,465 booths, while Paschim Bardhaman’s Asansol-Durgapur region will have 13 companies for 195 booths. The distribution reflects targeted deployment based on sensitivity, population density, and past electoral assessments. Authorities have also ensured separate planning for rural and urban policing needs in each district.

The Election Commission has stated that the objective of this extensive deployment is to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling across all constituencies. In addition, an international delegation will also visit West Bengal to observe the election process and security arrangements. Officials say the multi-layered security framework is designed to instil voter confidence and prevent any disruption during the electoral process.