Bengal polls: Prohibitory orders imposed in parts of Kolkata for 60 days

The West Bengal Police has imposed prohibitory orders for 60 days, starting Sunday, in parts of Kolkata’s central business district, PTI reported on Saturday.

Citing an official order from Friday, the news agency reported that the action was taken after the police received inputs about possible violent demonstrations.

The order came ahead of the counting of votes for the Assembly elections on Monday.

Polling was held in the state in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Repolling was being held on Saturday at 15 polling stations in the South 24 Parganas district that voted in the second phase of the elections.

On Thursday, tensions erupted in Kolkata after leaders from the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress alleged a lack of transparency and possible malpractice at the strongrooms housing sealed Electronic Voting Machines used during polling.

The police stated on Friday that it had received information from credible sources “that violent demonstrations are likely to take place, resulting in large-scale disturbances of the public tranquillity and breach of the peace” in areas under the Bowbazar and Hare Street police stations, as well as the Headquarters Traffic Guard zone, PTI reported.

It added that authorities were “of the opinion that there is sufficient cause” to restrict public gatherings in the interest of preventing any disturbance. The restrictions...

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