Route march of central paramilitary forces in Malanche, Minakhan. Several policemen, including the police officer in charge of Minakhan police station, are with them. Pictures by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: Three companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in Basirhat ahead of schedule to prevent any possible chaos surrounding the assembly elections. Patrols and route marches of the forces began in several important areas of Basirhat city on Saturday morning. The route march of the central forces started from Trimohini Chattar in the city. This route march was led by Basirhat Police District DSP Headquarters Dipanjan Chatterjee. He was accompanied by Basirhat Police Station IC Raktim Chatterjee and local police officers. The route march visited several populated and sensitive areas of the city.
Basirhat Police District Superintendent of Police Arif Bilal said that a total of three companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in the district so far. Each company has about 60 jawans. He said that this advance deployment is to further strengthen the security system ahead of the elections.
According to police sources, central forces have been strategically deployed in four police station areas - Najat, Basirhat, Swarupnagar and Hasnabad. They will conduct patrols, route marches and surveillance in coordination with the local police. The administration has said that this step is to maintain a peaceful environment before the elections, ensure the safety of the common people and avoid any untoward incident.
The Basirhat Sub-Divisional Administrator's office has been wrapped in security blankets before the announcement of the final voter list.