A day ahead of the high-stakes elections in Nandigram assembly constituency in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC. The EC has also started air surveillance in the area with the help of a helicopter.
In view of the sensitivity in the area, people who are not voters of Nandigram are not being allowed to enter the constituency.
“Nandigram is a sensitive constituency with high-profile candidates like Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikary.
We want to ensure that the law and order situation is not compromised and people can vote freely without fear,” the official said.
“That is the reason for imposing the prohibitory orders, which will be in place till Friday midnight. A person who is not a voter of Nandigram will not be allowed to enter the area till the polling is over,” he said.
The order prohibits the assembly of five or more persons, besides imposing other restrictions, he said.
Twenty-two companies of central forces are being deployed in the constituency, which has a total of 355 polling booths and 75 per cent of them will have a webcasting facility, the official said.
Central forces along with the state police have already started naka checkings at crucial junctions in the area, he said.
“Vehicles are being thoroughly checked before they are allowed to enter Nandigram. No outside vehicles are being allowed in,” the official said, adding that anybody found trying to create a disturbance “will be handled strictly”.
