EC steps up police observers ahead of Bengal polls fifth phase

KOLKATA, April 27: Ahead of the crucial fifth phase of the West Bengal assembly polls, the Election Commission has increased the number of police observers to heighten vigilance in the poll-bound districts of South 24 Pargas, Kolkata and Hooghly.

Fifty-three constituencies spread across the three districts will go to the polls on Saturday.

While Kolkata and Hooghly will have two police observers each, in South 24 Pargas, three observers will be deployed, an official said here on Wednesday.

Actress-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly of the BJP moved the poll panel demanding repoll in 16 booths in her constituency Howrah North where she had alleged “rampant booth capturing” and voter intimidation by Trimool ‘goons’ during the fourth phase on April 25. (IANS)