WB writes to EC to include a local officer in QRTs

The West Bengal government has written to the Election Commission requesting it to review its decision of not including a local officer with the quick response teams (QRTs) for the final phase of the general elections, officials said Tuesday.

State home secretary Atri Bhattacharya wrote to West Bengal chief electoral officer Aariz Aftab on Monday stressing the need of having a local police officer with the QRTs which comprise of central forces personnel.

He alleged that in some instances QRTs fail to reach the spot where there is trouble more than an hour after the message is sent to them.

"This was because they did not have knowledge of the locality. I would therefore, request that the decision for not having a local officer in-charge of QRTs be re-examined," Bhattacharya wrote to the CEO.

Referring to incidents of firing by the CAPF during the May 12 polls at Gopiballavpur, Bishnupur, Moyna, Sabong and Bhagawanpur and lathicharging of voters, the letter said "I would also most earnestly request that the CAPF officers and personnel be sensitised to the needs of the voters exercising their franchise, which would reduce the preceived need to resort to physical force against them."