Central forces marched in Junglemahal ahead of the 6th Phase Lok Sabha polls

New Delhi: Close on the heels of the recent violence that witnessed during the polls in West Bengal, more central forces and state armed police forces have been deployed and started their area domination exercise, a government source said here on Thursday.

On the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 12, the Junglemahal - once a LWE affected area, is going to vote. Tamluk, Kanthigathal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur will be going for the poll that day.

Sources said, "Taking into consideration the sensitivity of Jungle Mahal area (LWE affected), previous poll violence or the incidents on the eve of the poll, on the day of poll, 602 Coys of Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, BSF, CISF, SSB, ITBP, RPF, RAF) and 111 Coys and State Armed Police are being deployed for election duties."

Further, to motivate the voters, measures like route marches, Long Range Patrols, cordon and search operations are being undertaken in all the eight constituencies. To ensure safety and security of polling parties, voters, EVMs, candidate, polling agents and other poll-related officials on the day of poll, forces will be deployed in all polling stations. "Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), 547 Quick Action Teams (QATs) headed by Coy Commanders and 108 additional QATs headed by Adhoc Commandants and 2-I/Cs are also instructed to be on the move," the sources further said.

Besides, they are being already briefed about the sensitivity of the constituencies, previous poll-related violence.

Forces deployed in the Junglemahal area are being briefed to wear bulletproof jackets, helmets and carry adequate ammunition and asked not to move in the vehicle to avoid IEDs. They are also briefed to check all the culverts probable places of planting IEDs much before their movement.

For the BJP, the sixth phase is perhaps the most crucial one in West Bengal, as at least four of the constituencies are dominated by tribals. Moreover, the area witnessed maximum Maoist violence that killed more than 1,000 people until 2012. However, Mamata Banerjee's effort recorded the surrender of 300-odd Maoist to the police after she came to power.