For Kankinara resident Munna Singh, elections in Barrackpur Lok Sabha constituency had been synonymous with violence. His notion modified on Monday as he stepped out of his dwelling to solid his vote when the seat went to polls through the fifth section of basic elections together with six different constituencies in West Bengal.
Thought of to be an epicentre of violence up to now elections, Barrackpur in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas noticed a largely peaceable polling course of the place central power jawans had been seen helping folks in exercising their franchise.
With 56 Central Armed Police Power (CAPF) firms deployed in Barrackpur police district together with over 2,900 state police personnel, voters may very well be seen flocking to sales space with confidence. The safety personnel may very well be seen serving to voters with disabilities and aged residents in reaching cubicles and guiding first-time voters.
“The central forces are taking part in an important position in guaranteeing a easy and safe election course of. They don’t seem to be permitting any gatherings outdoors the cubicles. Actually, their proactive method is boosting voters’ confidence,” mentioned the 40-year-old, whereas recalling how through the 2019 final Lok Sabha elections two of his relations couldn’t vote as a result of rigidity within the space. Throughout and after 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Barrackpur had witnessed a number of incidents of violence which had additionally claimed lives.
“Their presence is stopping potential disruptions and their willingness to assist voters can be commendable,” mentioned Dilip Shaw, who got here to vote at a polling station from Bhatpara.
To make sure free, honest and violence-free Lok Sabha polls, the Election Fee of India (ECI) has already sanctioned the deployment of 920 firms of central forces in West Bengal – the best amongst all states within the nation.
Whereas some voters discovered the presence of central forces reassuring, others felt that the credit score goes to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre for guaranteeing that ample safety personnel are deployed within the state through the election interval. “The whole lot goes easily. After seeing how issues have modified on the bottom and the way peacefully persons are voting I believe this authorities on the centre is nice. Generally you want an aggressive authorities to sort out robust conditions,” mentioned Mohit Shaw, as he returned after exercising his franchise at a polling station in Titagarh Jyotirmay Yubajan Vidya Kendram.
Round a kilometre away from the polling station, sitting MP and BJP’s candidate Barrackpur Arjun Singh needed to face ‘Go Again’ slogans whereas he was visiting ward quantity 15 in Titagarh following studies of rigged voting. As Singh’s supporters and staff of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) obtained into an alleged scuffle, central forces and state police current on the spot dispersed the group. The immediate motion by central forces prevented the incident from escalating additional, claimed native residents.
In accordance with officers, CAPF firms had been deployed in constituencies relying on their location and risk assessments. The businesses stored visiting completely different polling stations every time they had been alerted of a disturbance. “This method may function a mannequin for future elections and guarantee a secure and inclusive voting expertise for all residents. I believe that is what we needed in Barrackpur. At the very least, enable folks to vote peacefully, relaxation they’ll resolve,” mentioned an insurance coverage agent who had come to solid his vote in Titagarh. At a polling station arrange at Garfa Excessive College, at round 2.40 pm, a bunch of individuals surrounded a person in white kurta accusing him of influencing voters to vote for TMC. The CAPF jawans deployed on the gate quickly introduced the scenario beneath management. “There was a verbal argument between some folks. As quickly as they (forces) obtained to find out about it, they got here right here. They’re actually fast this time, fairly proactive. They should be applauded. It’s in any other case tough to vote from right here freely,” mentioned Sangeeta Kumari, a voter from the realm .
Noor Mohammad, a in another way abled voter, was completely happy because it was the primary time he may vote in years as central forces helped him attain the close by polling station. On the Shahid Tapan Choudhury Vidya Niketan in Bizpur, 362 voters had solid their vote out of 806 until round midday.
Presiding officer Chandan Chakraborty mentioned, “It’s a peaceable voting day. There aren’t any points as such however the ballot course of was disrupted a bit as a result of frequent energy cuts and heavy rain. Therefore, the turnout has been low to this point.”
Within the wake of the facility cuts, voting was held in candlelight at a number of polling stations.
On the Halisahar RamPrasad Vidyapith, 304 out of 688 voters had exercised their franchise until 12.25 pm. “We expect the turnout to extend because the day progresses,” mentioned presiding officer of the polling station Hanif Ali Mondal. Dilip Kumar Pal (62), who’s partially paralysed as a result of stroke, was discovering it laborious to achieve the polling sales space arrange on the Halisahar Ram Prasad Vidyapith, till a central power jawan helped him.
Pal’s son Sandip, who was accompanying his father, mentioned, “The central forces are doing their job completely. With out their assist, my father wouldn’t have been capable of solid his vote. It isn’t solely giving confidence to voters but in addition instilling a sense of gratitude amongst us.”
Head Constable Bhagwan Das, who helped Sandeep’s father, mentioned, “I’ve been posted in Bengal for the primary time. I’ve heard rather a lot that polls in Bengal are very violent. I noticed a distinct image this time. The Bengal police are helping us every time we’re asking them for assist and never interrupting in what we’re doing. I discovered the folks in Bengal to be very good and cooperative. Nonetheless, that is our job to assist voters and cease anybody who tries to disturb the ballot course of.”