Balakrishnan submits report on Keshpur incident

Kolkata, Apr 7 (UNI) Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan has submitted an inquiry report to the Election Commission on the raid on the CPI(M) office at Keshpur that evoked a furore among the ruling Marxists in West Bengal.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Debasish Sen today Said Mr Balakrishnan had obtained reports from the 'concerned quarters' and submitted his findings to the EC. '' It is now up to the Commission to take a final decision on the matter, '' he said.

The raid on the CPI(M) zonal office in Midnapore was carried out on April three following an order by the district poll observer, which the party described as ''illegal and malafide''.

Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon ordered a probe into the incident, which prompted Mr Balakrishnan to seek reports from the district administration and police.

Mr Sen informed that for the first time in the state, three helicopters would be pressed into service to keep an aerial serveillance during the first phase polling in the Maoist-prone districts of Purulia, West Midnapore and Bankura on April 17. While two helicopters would be requisitioned from the Army, one would be of the State Government.

The Commission had already arranged an unprecedented security arrangement to ensure a peaceful polling in the three districts, torn by frequent strikes by the underground Maoist activists.

The CEO said in a departure from the hitherto practice of appointing polling agents, the EC had set an eligibility criteria and directed for issuing entry passes for them during polling.

While the polling agent must be an enlisted voter, he should also possess voter's identity card in the absence of which the EC stipulated identity cards issued by any Government office or public undertaking as the proof of his bonafide, the CEO said.

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