Ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal tomorrow, the Central forces with sophisticated weapons have begun intensive flag march and area-domination exercises in the sensitive Assembly segments identified by the Election Commission.
"The sensitive Assembly segments have been identified. The Central forces have been asked to carry out intensive flag marches and area-domination exercises. These will continue till the night," Chief Electoral Officer Debashis Sen told reporters after a high-level meeting to review security arrangements for the polls.
Stating that 215 company of Central forces were being deployed across the 17 parliamentary constituencies going to polls in the second phase, he said they were armed with light machine guns and automatic grenade launchers, besides automatic and semi-automatic rifles.
As many as 11 additional Central observers would also be on duty for the second phase of polls, he said.
Extra vigil was being maintained on Haldi river skirting Nandigram, Sen said, adding that ferries across the river were also being monitored with the help of river police.
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