Political parties tapped on ‘sensitive’ booths in Bengal

The Opposition leaders said they would provide lists of booths that witnessed violence during the 2018 panchayat and 2019 Lok Sabha elections

In an all-party meeting at the district magistrate’s office here on Sunday, Jalpaiguri district magistrate Moumita Godara Basu asked representatives of parties to submit the details to the administration by March 2.: Shutterstock

TT  |   Jalpaiguri   |    01.03.21 :  The district administration in Jalpaiguri has asked leaders of political parties to submit details of booths they feel should be identified as sensitive and information on areas where they apprehend breach of peace.

In an all-party meeting  at the district magistrate’s office here on Sunday, Jalpaiguri district magistrate Moumita Godara Basu asked representatives of parties to submit the details to the administration by March 2.

“Primarily, we have identified 294 booths as sensitive, spread across seven Assembly constituencies of the district. We have also told political parties to submit lists of booths and areas they feel should be marked sensitive. This will help us prepare a security deployment plan,” the DM said.

Asking political parties, administrative sources said, is a parallel move. Usually, the administration identifies sensitive booths by consulting the police and intelligence agencies.

“However, asking political parties as well may prove to be an effective move as we can get additional information about more booths and can act accordingly,” said a source in the district administration.

Representatives of political parties present at the meeting said they would soon gather information and submit the list to the administration.

The Left, Congress and BJP leaders said they would provide lists of booths where violence was witnessed during the 2018 panchayat and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

District Trinamul leaders said they would also furnish details of areas such as Maynaguri block where their workers had allegedly been murdered. “Our workers have been attacked in a number of locations during the past couple of years. We also have come to know that they are being intimidated and stopped from carrying out campaigns in rural belts. We will submit a detailed list of these,” said Bhaskar Sarkar, Trinamul’s media coordinator in Jalpaiguri.

The administration, sources said, has taken up the task to identify booths where in past elections, polling percentage was comparatively less than the district average.

“Government officials and security forces will go there to encourage voters there to exercise their rights. Officials will take note if voters cite any problem that discourages them from voting,” a source said.

As of now, two companies of central paramilitary forces have reached Jalpaiguri and  are carrying out route marches in several areas.