Balkrishnan assures of security for free, fair elections

Midnapore, Apr 6 (UNI) Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan today said proper security arrangements have been taken to ensure free and fair polling in the Maoist prone West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts on April 17.

Mr Balakrishnan held high level meetings with the District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Election Observers and senior police officials of the region.

He also met heads of paramilitary forces.

''Adequate security arrangements have already been made. Election Observers have been posted in the all the constituencies.

Paramilitary forces have already been deployed,'' he said.

West Midnapore district alone is going to get 50 companies more paramilitary forces over and above the already 200 companies that have been deployed.

Mr Balakrishnan said the total safety and security arrangements would be finalised in a DG level meeting on April 11 at Kolkata.

He said borders with Jharkhand, Orissa and Bihar with the three districts would be sealed within a day or two.

Referring to Tuesdays raid on Zonal Committee and Local Committee CPM party offices in Keshpur, he said an official report from the DM and SP of West Midnapore districts has been sought and proper action would be taken on the report. ''If necessary more such raids will continue,'' he said.

Regarding release of final 'Electoral Rolls', he said, ''It is still an ongoing process.'' He was accompanied by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Debasis Sen and Assitant Election Commissioner Anant Kumar.

UNI XC TJP PA BS2101