Bengal: 500 companies of central forces to remain deployed till June 20

The Union home ministry has decided to continue deploying 500 companies of Central Armed Police Forces in West Bengal till June 20 at the request of the state government, PTI reported.

A company of the Central Armed Police Forces has about 100 to 150 personnel.

The West Bengal government had sought that the central forces’ deployment should be continued till the end of October for post-election duties, a communication from the home ministry stated.

A communication addressed to the West Bengal chief secretary, home secretary and director general of police said that 200 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, 150 of the Border Security Force and 50 each of the Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal will remain deployed in the state till June 20, PTI reported.

The forces were being retained mainly to assist the police in maintaining law and order in sensitive areas after the Assembly elections, the news agency quoted an unidentified state government official as saying.

“The deployment is aimed at ensuring peace and preventing any untoward incidents in vulnerable areas,” the official said, according to PTI. “Coordination between the state police and CAPFs is continuing.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party had won the West Bengal elections on May 4, ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule in...

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