Voting in Jangalmahal to be monitored by choppers

Union Home Ministry has sanctioned two helicopters for conducting aerial surveillance on the first day of Phase I elections scheduled to take place on April 4. One air ambulance may also be deployed for the elections that day.

The Election Commission (EC) had urged to the Home Ministry for three helicopters among which two have already been cleared by the ministry. The Central Forces will be carrying out surveillance from the helicopter in the Jangalmahal areas. The EC was keeping no stone unturned to ensure free and fair elections in the state and hence it had taken various new steps.

Around 18 Assembly Constituencies from the three districts ~ Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore will go to poll on April 4 on the first day of Phase I. For the first time the live cameras will be installed in patrolling vehicles which will travel to the sensitive polling stations. These vehicles will be manned by the Central Forces. The cameras will capture live pictures and send them to the Commission. Even the movement of the Central Forces will be monitored during the polls.

The EC is introducing unique colour code for the first time in West Bengal to mark the index finger of the voters. According to the EC official the colour will vary from one Assembly constituency to the other to prevent false voting. As a part of its initiative to conduct the election process peacefully the colour code will be introduced so that one voter could be easily identified which constituency he/she belongs to.