“We also asked for fire personnel but the EC has ruled it out. We will get 1,000 forest officials who will be deputed for election duty. We will also deploy more than 10,000 home guards in several polling booths,” he said.

“Coming days are very crucial. I apprehend violence. Police have been told to be on guard everywhere,” he added.

Official faces FIR for ‘fake’ names
The Election Commission has directed the district magistrate of Nadia to file an FIR against a government official, who was caught adding fake names to the electoral roll. The official is posted in Tehatta in Nadia district.

CEO Debashis Sen said the EC has also asked the food corporation to stop issuing new ration cards until the election is over.

HC orders security for mela
The Calcutta High Court on Monday directed the district police chief of North 24-Parganas to arrange for adequate security for the ‘Matua’ mela that is scheduled to begin from Tuesday at Thakurnagar. More than 10 lakh people gather at the mela. This year the leaders of various parties have already visited Thakurnagar to garner votes of the ‘Matua’ community. Thakurnagar comes under the Bongaon parliamentary constituency. Two persons from the mela committee had filed a writ petition last week alleging that the police did not take steps to provide security for the mela. The mela will end on April 4.