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The contingents will include Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Sashastra Seema Bal.
They will also guard EVMs at strong rooms and counting centres during the election process. (File image)
The Election Commission of India has finalised the first-phase deployment of 240 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) across 35 Police districts and Commissionerates in poll-bound West Bengal, with the contingents likely to arrive on Friday, February 27, 2026.
According to administrative sources, the deployment is part of preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in the next few months. Notably, the forces are being sent to the state even before the formal announcement of the poll schedule — a move being seen as significant amid recurring concerns over law and order during elections in the state.
They said that the early deployment comes amid apprehensions of possible violence after the publication of the final electoral roll, which is scheduled for February 28 following the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
According to the deployment plan, Purba Medinipur will receive the highest number of companies at 14. Malda and Kolkata have been allocated 12 companies each. In North Bengal, Cooch Behar will get nine companies, Jalpaiguri seven, Darjeeling six, and Alipurduar five.
In South Bengal, seven companies will be deployed in the Howrah Police Commissionerate and nine in Barrackpore. Barasat and Diamond Harbour will receive six companies each, while Baruipur will get five. Birbhum, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur have been allotted seven companies each, while Jhargram and Purulia will receive five companies each. The Sundarban Police District has been allocated four companies.
In total, 480 CAPF companies will be deployed in phases for election-related duties. According to a poll body official, the first batch of around 240 companies will be inducted by March 1, while the remaining 240 companies are expected to join by March 10, news agency PTI reported.
The contingents will include personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and the Sashastra Seema Bal.
The forces will undertake area domination exercises, confidence-building measures and other poll-related duties. They will also guard Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at strong rooms and counting centres during the election process.
February 26, 2026, 13:24 IST
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