Govt rushes 20K paramilitary troopers for pre-poll duties in

Each company of these forces has about 100 personnel

The Centre has sent about twenty thousand paramilitary personnel to West Bengal as part of its security preparations for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.

The units, drawn from various central forces, will engage in area domination and law and order duties. The Election Commission is yet to announce the dates for Assembly polls in West Bengal and four other states.

While the Central Reserve Police Force has been asked to pool in the maximum of 80 companies, the Border Security Force will contribute 40 such units. Central Industrial Security Force and Sashastra Seema Bal will provide 30 companies each and the 20 such units will be sent by Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

As per the directive by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the CRPF will oversee the deployment of these units in two phases that will be completed on March 7.

"While 156 units are being sent additionally by the Home Ministry from outside West Bengal, 44 are being taken out from CRPF battalions deployed in the state for internal security duties and anti-Naxal operations," a senior official said.

The units have been put at the disposal of the state government for final deployment keeping in mind troubled and vulnerable areas in the run up to the polls, the official said.

Apart from West Bengal, four other states of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu will have Assembly polls later this year.