Thaindian News

Kolkata, May 9 (IANS) Three helicopters are conducting aerial surveillance of the Maoist affected districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura as part of security measures for the final round of West Bengal assembly polls to be held in these areas Tuesday, an official said.

“Two helicopters were conducting surveillance in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura from May 5 and one more was deployed from Monday morning,” state Joint Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu Sarkar said.

A total of 14 constituencies in these districts are to go to polls Tuesday in the sixth and final round.

According to the Election Commission (EC) sources, 617 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in the three districts, apart from 41 companies of central forces which are permanently deployed in the three districts to tackle the Maoist rebels.

Around 26,000 state police personnel have also been deployed on election duty in the 14 constituencies.

A total of 2,657,434 electors are eligible to cast their votes at 3,534 polling booths in this round.

The inter-state and inter-districts borders have been sealed and security personnel have been asked to conduct checking and patrolling on all roads leading to polling booths, said Sarkar.

“High frequency satellite phones will be used in many polling booths located in Ayodhya Hills in Purulia, where network connectivity is a major problem. Besides, modern gadgets like anti-explosive devices provided by the home ministry and other security agencies, which are capable of detecting and defusing IEDs (improvised explosive devices, or home-made bombs) and landmines are in use,” he added.

“A special type of bandage called quick clot trauma kit, which prevents excessive bleeding, has been imported to treat both security personnel and common people in case of any injury” in the constituencies going to polls, Sarkar said.