Security stepped up for Panchayat election in North Bengal

Siliguri, May 17 (UNI) Security arrangements throughout North Bengal have been beefed-up in view of the third and last phase of the three-tier Panchayat election in seven districts of Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Malda tomorrow.

Additional Director General of Police Utpal Kumar Dutta said here today, two companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) had already been deployed at Birbhum, Murshidabad and Coochbehar while one company had been deployed at Jalpaiguri and North and South Dinajpur districts.

Besides, large number of additional security forces, including State Armed Police, Rapid Action Force and Indian Reserve Battalion, would also be deployed.

North Bengal Inspector General of Police K L Tamta said majority of the 8,500 additional security personnel had already arrived here yesterday in four special trains, adding that more personnel were scheduled to arrive today.

The Indo-Bangla border would remain sealed today and tomorrow as a precautionary measure.

Besides, increased numbers of Seema Sashastra Bal (SSB) would patrol the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders as well as the areas of West Bengal bordering Bihar and Assam.

UNI XC DPM RSA BST1200