680 central forces companies, night teams for Bengal poll fifth phase

As many as 680 companies of central forces will be deployed in poll-bound districts of South 24 Parganas, Kolkata and Hooghly during the fifth phase of polls on April 30, Election Commission officials said here.

"(A total of) 680 companies will be deployed. There has been slight realignment of observers. In each of the three poll going districts, two police observers will be deployed," an official said.

Earlier, officials had said while Kolkata and Hooghly will have two police observers each, while in South 24 Parganas, three observers will be deployed.

According to additional chief electoral officer Dibyendu Sarkar, central forces deployed in 1,064 sectors spread across the three districts will be significant in maintaining law and order in the fifth phase.

"In each sector, half a section of central forces will be present. There are 225 quick response teams and night intervention teams are active," he said.

Fifty-three constituencies spread across the three districts will go to the polls on Saturday.

--IANS

sgh/vd