Kolkata: Stating that steps have been taken to avoid even stray incidents during and ahead of the Panchayat election, Anuj Sharma, the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), said: "The West Bengal Police is sufficient to conduct a peaceful and fair Panchayat poll."
He has also stated while addressing the Press in the state secretariat that all political parties are getting equal chances to file nomination without any hindrance.
Sharma said: "It is being shown in a section of media that nobody can file nomination as trouble is taking place at different places. It is also being shown that some political parties are not being able to file nominations there. But I would like to say that the facts and figures collected from the districts show that overall, all parties are getting chances to file nominations."
Giving data on the number of nominations filed, showing that all political parties are getting equal chances in filing nomination, he maintained: "In the last two days in Gram Panchayat level, 1,614 nominations have been filed by All India Trinamool Congress, while other political parties have filed 1,692 nominations. It shows that all political parties were being able to file nominations."
When asked whether there is a need of the Central forces to conduct the probe, Sharma said: "No, the state police are sufficient in conducting free, fair and peaceful election."
He further said that the nomination process is going on smoothly at the moment and to maintain the same, they are sending additional police forces.
In connection with the stray incidents that took place in some places, Sharma said: "Some incidents have taken place and it has been taken note of. There are 48,500 Gram Panchayat seats and incidents have taken place in some of the places. Cases have been started and legal action will also be taken against the people involved in these incidents."
He further said that instructions have been passed to superintendents of police and commissioners of concerned police commissionerates to take all necessary steps, so that nomination process is completed peacefully.
"There is strong police arrangement and it has been instructed to further increase the vigil where it is required," he maintained.
It may be mentioned that police have taken adequate steps with regard to an incident of a journalist being attacked in Cooch Behar on Wednesday.