Central forces to stay in violence-hit Bengal till June 19 as situation tense

Section 144 imposed in 17 pockets of Sandeshkhali, additional security personnel deployed

- SULAGNA SENGUPTA

A day after a BJP worker was hacked to death at Nadia in Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal and prohibitory orders under Section 144 were imposed at 17 pockets at Sandeshkhali, the situation remained tense in all the constituencies before the poll verdict day.

Sources in the Election Commission said 400 companies of additional Central Armed Police will be deployed till June 19 to curb post-poll violence in the state. The EC has arranged a three-tier security measure outside every counting centre, with 92 companies of central forces along with 2,525 personnel of the state police.

In Kaliganj, Hafijul Sheikh was shot at and then hacked twice allegedly by Trinamool activists. His was decapitated and his body was taken away.