Kolkata: A total of 200 FIRs have been registered and 433 arrests made in connection with post-poll violence in West Bengal since the declaration of Assembly election results on May 4, Director General of Police (DGP) Siddh Nath Gupta said on Wednesday.
The DGP added that, apart from those arrested directly in violence-related cases, 1,100 individuals have also been placed under preventive detention as part of ongoing law-and-order measures.
His statement came a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary, the DGP, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed in the state to maintain zero tolerance towards post-poll violence.
Gupta also addressed the withdrawal of certain additional security arrangements provided earlier outside the residences and offices of outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. He clarified that both leaders continue to receive protocol-based security, while the withdrawn personnel have been redeployed for law-and-order duties in the state.
“These additional personnel have been withdrawn and are now being utilised for maintaining law and order in West Bengal,” the DGP said.
He also appealed to citizens not to take the law into their own hands under any circumstances, urging those with grievances to approach the police instead of resorting to violence.
“If any incident occurs and no complaint is filed, the police will initiate suo motu cases wherever necessary,” he added.
In line with ECI directions, 500 companies of Central Armed Police Forces continue to remain deployed across West Bengal even after May 4 to prevent further incidents of post-poll violence. The forces will stay in the state until further orders from the Commission.
With IANS inputs