Kolkata, Dec 12 (LatestNewsX) – The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sent specialised observers to West Bengal to supervise the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. While carrying out their inspection work, the observers asked that the central armed police forces (CAPF) provide on‑site security.
The request was forwarded to ECI headquarters in New Delhi on Friday afternoon, according to sources from the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
If CAPF backup cannot be arranged, the observers proposed a backup plan: they would receive magisterial authority, allowing the security troops they deploy to obey the observers’ orders, while state police would remain in charge of their safety.
Insiders confirmed that both options were submitted to the ECI the same afternoon, following an incident on Thursday when observer C. Murugan was met with protests during the SIR in South 24 Parganas. Women supporters of the Trinamool Congress led the disturbance in the Falta area.
The observers also wanted the ECI to scrutinise remarks made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at an anti‑SIR rally in Krishnanagar, Nadia district. In her address, the CM was said to have urged women voters to take a stand against the electoral officers conducting the revision.
“Mothers and sisters, be ready with your cooking utensils if they delete your names from the voters’ list. Do you have that courage? Will you remain silent if they delete your names from the voters’ list? Will you let them go? The women will fight from the forefront, while the men will be backing them from behind. I want to know whether BJP’s strength is more than that of our mothers and sisters,” the Chief Minister reportedly said at the Krishnanagar rally on Thursday afternoon.
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