Special police observer for Bengal reaching Sunday

Special police observer for West Bengal Vivek Dube, appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in place of K.K. Sharma who has been shifted, will reach the state on Sunday, an official said here on Saturday.

"Vivek Dube, special police observer for the state will come to Kolkata on Sunday evening," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu told the media here.

He said that Dube will look after the deployment of Central and state forces. He will also look after other matters as per the Chief Electoral Officer's instructions.

Asked when would Dube be taking charge, Basu said: "The schedule will be prepared once he arrives."

The ECI had appointed Sharma as the Central police observer for West Bengal.

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had criticised Sharma's appointment calling him "an RSS man" and mentioned that her government will write a "strong letter" to the ECI about the same.

In the first phase, two constituencies Coochbehar and Alipurduar will go to the polls on April 11.

--IANS

bnd/ssp/ksk/bg