800 companies of paramilitary forces in West Bengal for Sunday polls

New Delhi: Over 800 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed for nine Lok Sabha constituencies in the last phase of polling in West Bengal on Sunday, said officials, adding that security has been beefed up taking into account governor Keshari Nath Tripathi’s reports to the Centre. There have been more than 300 incidents of poll violence reported from West Bengal so far.

The governor’s report, ET has learnt, gave phase-wise details of violence in West Bengal and sought to ensure safety of citizens in the wake of reports that the ruling Trinamool Congress cadres were allegedly threatening voters.

“The West Bengal administration has sought 900 paramilitary personnel but due to simultaneous polls in other states, including UP and Bihar, the Centre had agreed to provide 700 companies of CAPFs,” an official familiar with the development told ET.