3-layer security grid in place: 1,500 personnel guard Kolkata strong rooms ahead of counting day

KOLKATA: Sixty uniformed men, drawn from CAPF and Kolkata Police, are doing the rounds of each of the 22 strong rooms in Kolkata across the seven counting centres in the city. In all, the city's strong rooms will see 1,500 CAPF and Kolkata Police personnel on rounds in each shift.

Three sections, or one platoon, 24-30 CAPF personnel to be exact, are carrying arms and are protecting the innermost layer.

Kolkata Police will be providing security for the two outer layers.

There will be 12 KP officers for each strong room and 24 constables on three shifts. One layer of KP officers will be armed, too. The local police have been assigned to form the third layer.

Across the state, more than 200 companies of CAPF have been requisitioned to protect 294 strong rooms; 7,500 Bengal Police personnel will be providing support and forming the peripheral security. Election Commission officials said three layers of security will also be provided across all 77 counting centres.





For Kolkata (South) constituencies, counting will be carried out at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education University (West Bengal University of Teachers' Training, Education Planning & Administration), Ballygunge Govt High School, Sakhawat Memorial Govt Girls' High School and St Thomas Boys School. Three counting centres will be used to count the votes for the South 24 Parganas constituencies, like A P C Ray Polytechnic College, Viharilal College and Hastings House Complex.

"As of now, we plan to depute 100 personnel to the counting centre on May 4 to remove any sort of gathering outside them," said an officer. Till the counting date, only authorised central forces personnel and authorised EC officials can go close to strong rooms.

A similar SOP has been prepared for the districts. "The district EVMs are being protected through a three-layered security system where, besides CAPF and local police, the state's reserved police provides the extra security ring. Since Kolkata Police does not have such a unit, officers from the battalions will join the local police in securing the area," said an officer.

Guard rails have been kept at approach roads to the counting centres, and pickets have been set up outside the strong rooms. There are strict instructions not to let any unauthorised person inside the counting centres.

Each of the three police divisions — nine police stations in all — where elections were held on Wednesday has been assigned additional men to maintain peace in the areas. "We will deploy additional QRT, HRFS and HFS vehicles, especially near the counting centre, on counting day," an officer said.

All cops on patrol will have bodycams, and those in sensitive pockets will have video cameras. Bike patrol teams will focus on narrower roads.
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