The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is currently underway across the state, and tensions are running high. Reports of unrest and vandalism have surfaced from several districts, prompting concerns over law and order. In this backdrop, the Union government has decided not to take any chances.
Ahead of the formal announcement of the election dates, the Ministry of Home Affairs has given the go-ahead for the central forces to be deployed in West Bengal. In a notification issued on Saturday, the ministry headed by Amit Shah has confirmed that 480 companies of central forces will be deployed in the state in March.
480 companies to arrive in two phases
According to the order, the central forces will be deployed in two phases. The first set of 240 companies will arrive in the state on March 1, while the other 240 companies will arrive on March 10.
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Sources indicate that the Election Commission is likely to deploy the central forces mainly for confidence-building activities, especially in sensitive areas. The central forces will be required to carry out activities such as area domination, surveillance in vulnerable areas, and confidence-building activities among the voters in view of the rising tension.
Supreme Court sets deadline for final voter list
The deployment of central forces comes a day after the Supreme Court of India gave a clear directive in the SIR case. On Friday, the Supreme Court of India directed the Election Commission to release the final voters’ list by February 28.
However, the court has also given an opportunity to the Election Commission to prepare a supplementary list if the entire revision process cannot be completed within the stipulated time limit.
The announcement of the central force deployment within 24 hours of the court’s observation has drawn attention. A section of political analysts has described the move as unusual, given that such a large-scale deployment typically follows the declaration of election dates.
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Rising tensions during SIR exercise
Since the SIR process began, there have been flashpoints in different corners of the state, where observers and Booth Level Officers have been protesting.
In December last year, there were fresh reports of an attack on the car of special observer C. Murugan in Magrahat, South 24 Parganas.
During hearings in the SIR case, the Supreme Court did not mince words about the law and order situation in the state. Chief Justice Surya Kant is said to have warned that the Director General of Police would have to answer for his actions if the legal procedure is not strictly adhered to.
In this context, the Centre’s decision to send 480 central force companies is being seen as a major, politically loaded move.
