All the 3,035 polling stns to have CCTV coverage in Malda dist

Malda will be having 100 per cent close circuit camera coverage for all the 3,035 polling stations for the Panchayat elections slated on July 8.

The administration is working in full swing to make all the arrangements for the poll process to be completed peacefully. Printed ballot papers have already reached the 15 Blocks of the district and other materials to be sent to polling stations are being packed now.

So far 270 booths in the district have been marked as sensitive. For this, the district administration has decided to extend the date for casting election duty (ED) votes by one day, till Wednesday at 3 pm.

There will be 15 distribution and receiving centres in the district for a smooth polling process. All these DC and RCs will then convert into counting venues. According to the polling personnel cell of the district, almost 3400 personnel will be needed for the counting process, expected to be held on July 11.

Malda has already received 18 companies of Central forces to be deployed during the election. As per the development on Monday by the Home Ministry of India, additional 30 units of central forces are expected to reach Malda shortly though the exact amount is not known so far.

The police have started naka (surprise) checking at the entry and exit points of the district to stop any kind of movement of anti-social elements or illegal arms. The inter-state border between West Bengal and Bihar has been given special importance in this regard to stop infiltration of the miscreants into Malda to violate the poll process.

Nitin Singhania, District Magistrate Malda, said: “The preparations for the poll are going on in full swing. I have been visiting blocks to take stock of everything. All the 3,035 polling stations in the district are going to have CCTV cameras. The polling stations are being set up as per the standards. We are aiming for a peaceful and fair election to be conducted in the district.”