THE Election Commission on Monday said that Central Police Forces are being sent to all poll-bound States and not specifically to West Bengal, stressing that it is a routine practice for several decades. In a statement, the poll panel said the CPFs are routinely sent to all the States and UTs where Lok Sabha or assembly elections are to take place, for advance area domination, especially in the critical and vulnerable sectors.

 

It said these sectors are identified by meticulous advance reviews and concrete feedback from various sources, including political parties and entities. This practice is going on since the late 1980s, it observed. The Commission was responding to certain reports claiming that Central Forces were being specifically sent to West Bengal. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections also, Central Forces were sent to all States and UTs, and the same has been done in all assembly polls.