Bengal Election: Section 144 imposed in Nandigram ahead of polling

 A day before polling, the Election Commission on Wednesday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the Nandigram Assembly constituency

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in West Bengal’s Nandigram assembly constituency. The constituency, which witnessed a high-octane political campaign, is set to vote on Thursday.

As per the EC orders, the assembly of five or more persons is prohibited within 200 meters of polling premises. The only exemption is for people on election duty and voters entitled to vote in the said polling stations, the sub-divisional magistrate of Haldia in East Midnapore said.

“Nandigram is a sensitive constituency with high-profile candidates like Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari. We want to ensure that the law and order situation is not compromised and people can vote freely without fear,” news agency quoted an official as saying.

BJP's demand for Section 144

The EC order comes hours after a BJP delegation submitted a petition to the chief electoral officer in Kolkata requesting his immediate intervention to "stop infiltration of illegitimate voters of other nationalities and constituencies in Nandigram via Ferry ghat".

The delegation, led by union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urged the EC to properly implement "Section 144 in Nandigram, remove of officers colluding as agents of TMC, and seal of the ferry route.

The delegation also asked the EC to impose a ban on CM Mamata Banerjee’s "inflammatory speeches, which are promoting social discord".

In its letter, the delegation also alleged collusion between state machinery and TMC and demanded immediate removal of OC Nandigram and 14 other unscrupulous anti-social elements for conducting free and fair elections in Nandigram.

Mamata Banerjee claims BJP goons harassing Nandigram voters

Earlier on Tuesday, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had claimed that the BJP 'goons' had entered Nandigram and were harassing voters.

Speaking to India Today TV after wrapping up her last poll rally in Nandigram, Mamata Banerjee claimed that voters in Balarampur village were being harassed by the BJP goons.

She said that she will request the election commission to ensure the voters’ safety.

“Just see what is happening here. Villagers are being hounded out of Balarampur village by BJP goons. The EC [Election Commission] must ensure their safety. The EC must provide them with security,” she said.

The TMC chief claimed that the harassment was being carried out despite a very heavy presence of central forces to keep law and order in check during polls.

EC steps up security in Nandigram

Due to the sensitivity of the polls in Nandigram, the EC has deployed 22 companies of central forces to guard 355 polling booths in the constituency.

The central forces along with the state police have already started naka checkings at crucial junctions in the area.

“Vehicles are being thoroughly checked before they are allowed to enter Nandigram. No outside vehicles are being allowed in,” the official quoted in the PTI report said.

The EC has also decided to deploy a 22-personnel quick response team (QRT) in the area on the election day, the official said.

The EC has also constituted a team of officials who will supervise the proceedings in Nandigram on the poll day, he said.

The local authorities were also asked by the EC to execute all the pending arrest warrants by Wednesday night and take people, accused in various cases, into custody, he said.

Nandigram wore a deserted look during the day with only a few shops open. Vehicles such as e-rickshaws and autos were mostly unavailable with people choosing to stay indoors.

“We want peaceful polling and no disturbance here on April 1. People should get a peaceful environment so that they can cast their votes without any fear,” a resident of Sonachura said.

All eyes are on battleground Nandigram that is going to the polls on Thursday with the chief minister engaged in a fierce contest with her protégé-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP