ECI Finalizes 480-Company CAPF Plan for Bengal Polls, First 240 Deployed

Overview

• The rollout is in two phases with 240 companies deployed on March 1 and another 240 scheduled to arrive on March 10.
• District-wise allocations put the largest share in North 24 Parganas at 58 companies, followed by Murshidabad (35), South 24 Parganas (33), Kolkata (30) and East Midnapore (28).
• Deployed units have begun visible route marches in South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Siliguri to reinforce security and reassure residents, local police said.
• The CRPF is coordinating movement and deployment, drawing personnel from all five CAPFs, and each company will field at least 72 personnel as directed by the Home Ministry.
• Allocations are tailored to border and politically sensitive areas and are split across police districts and commissionerates to concentrate patrolling in priority zones.