Central forces to stay 10 days after voting

The Election Commission said paramilitary forces would remain for 10 more days after the conclusion of the West Bengal assembly polls.

The Election Commission said paramilitary forces would remain for 10 more days after the conclusion of the West Bengal assembly polls.

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Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi said, "We have made sure that the central paramilitary forces continue to be in position for 10 more days even after the conclusion of poll process. This is a special measure."

The poll panel order follows complaints in some areas that voters were apprehensive of their security once the poll process was over.

In his election campaign meetings, Union home minister P Chidambaram had urged people to vote fearlessly, promising that he will ensure the paramilitary forces stayed back for a few more days to instill a sense of security.

Quraishi also said that Rs 6.21 crore and Rs 1.11 crore of illegal money had been seized by the income tax department and the poll panel's flying squad respectively.

"Without evidence we cannot say it is black money," the poll panel boss said.