Live digital surveillance for sensitive poll booths in WB

The poll watchdog will install video cameras in vulnerable booths as an additional measure along with poll observers of various categories and Central Armed Forces. “We will have video cameras installed in such booths which will give live broadcast to the district control room. 

This will help us in taking immediate action if needed,” an EC official said. The official said the presence of cameras will monitor all those who are entering the booth and those who are standing near the gates. “This will act as a deterrent to mischief makers as they will know that they are being monitored,” he said. They have identified around 14,000 vulnerable pockets across the state so far. 

All polling booths falling in such areas will be classified as vulnerable polling stations where additional security measures will be taken. Even in the pre-polling phase, various confidence building measures are being taken in such areas. 

Whenever the situation is considered to be normal, the EC removes them from the list of vulnerable areas, officials said, adding that it is a dynamic process. Senior officials including the district magistrate and sub-divisional officer have been asked to visit such spots on a regular basis. 

District level helplines have also been started from this week where people can call and lodge complaints. Officials from the district control room are also maintaining a list of contact persons in such sensitive areas whom they are calling regularly to take feedback, officials said. The first phase of the six-phased polls in the state will be held on April 4.

The notification for the second phase of Assembly election to 56 constituencies in West Bengal was issued on Tuesday by the Election Commission of India.

Polling for 56 constituencies will be held in the second phase on April 17 in Alipurduar, Jaipaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Malda and Birbhum districts. With the issue of notification, the nomination process will start.   The last date of filing nomination is March 29.   The scrutiny of nominations will be undertaken on March 30. 

Last date for withdrawal is April 1 and polling will be held on April 17.   West Bengal will witness six phases of election.  In the first phase, voting will take place on April 4 and April 11 as the seats fall under the Naxal affected areas.  Voting in second phase will take place on April 17, third phase on April 21, fourth phase on April 25, fifth phase on April 30 and sixth phase on May 5. The counting of votes will be held on May 19.