Bengal SIR: ECI directs police to ensure absolute security during revision exercise

Kolkata, Jan 21 (LatestNewsX) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday directed Acting Director General of West Bengal Police Rajeev Kumar to abide by the Supreme Court order earlier this week and ensure an absolutely peaceful law and order situation in the state during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

On Wednesday, a communique was forwarded to Kumar from Election Commission of India (ECI) Secretary Pawan Diwan, directing strict action on this count.

In the communique, copies of which were also forwarded to West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, the Commission directed all district collectors, other police commissioners and district police superintendents to strictly adhere to the apex court order and maintain strict law and order during the ongoing SIR.

In the communique, the Commission also cautioned the state government that strong action would be taken in case of non-compliance with the apex court’s direction.

“Strict action shall be taken in case of any non-compliance with the above directions or occurrence of instances of any disturbance to SIR proceedings due to omission or commission of any act by the concerned authorities. You are directed to ensure the strict compliance of the aforesaid directions,” read the communiqué, a copy of which is available with LatestNewsX.

The ECI also directed the state government to provide adequate manpower to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, for deployment at panchayat bhawans, block offices and other places where hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list are held.

“Each district collector/superintendent of police should deploy adequate staff and forces to ensure the smooth conduct of SIR proceedings at such places. The director general of police, West Bengal, commissioner of police (Kolkata), superintendent of police of each district and the collectors are instructed to ensure that there are no law and order problems at the locations and that the SIR-related activities proceed smoothly,” the communiqué said.

src/pgh