EC to send team to Bengal for assessment

In the wake of the recent political violence in West Bengal,the Election Commission (EC) has decided to make an independent assessment of the law and order situation in the poll-bound state. For this purpose the EC has decided to send a team of five police officers,led by the Chief Electoral Officer,Bihar,to West Bengal in order to assess the situation and submit a report on the steps required to ensure free,fair and peaceful elections later this year.

The team will visit various districts and make an on-the-spot assessment after which it will submit a report to the EC, an official press release said.

In this context,the EC has pointed out it has received representations from political parties both in Delhi and during its visit to Kolkata on January 8 on the situation in the state. The Commission is taking all necessary measures,including keeping a watch on the law and order situation. Several political parties have submitted representations on the prevailing law and order situation in Bengal. The Commission has also gone through media reports on the issue. Maintenance of law and order is crucial for conducting free and fair and peaceful elections, the EC said.