Cop model for `clean' polls

KOLKATA: As poll violence cuts a bloody swathe through the districts of south Bengal, Salt Lake is getting the jitters as it prepares to vote on August 25. With less than three days to go, worrying news came in that likes of Syndicate kingpin Bhajai Sardar will be out enforcing the Trinamool writ. The opposition is now banking on what is now being popularly being called the “Kolkata model“ to ensure the remaining phases of elections in Kolkata, Bidhannagar and neighbouring districts pass off peacefully .

Under the Election Commissionappointed police commissioner Soumen Mitra, Kolkata Police won back much of their lost credibility during voting on Thursday . The cops stuck to the rulebook, and followed EC rules to the letter to act in a non-partisan manner. It has inspired Bidhannagar and Barrackpore commissionerates to follow the same model.

A section of Bidhannagar police is determined not to allow a re-run of the violence that marred civic poll in Salt Lake last year. “We are taking all necessary security measures, including naka checks to check anti-social movement and prevent any untoward incident in Salt Lake on poll day ,“ said commissioner Jawed Shamim.

But concerns remain. Trinamool strongman Anwar Khan got bail in about five minutes after keeping the cops on their toes for five hours on Thursday following his comment to “clobber the EC with shoes“. “The elections here are over. Neither Anwar nor Swapan Chakraborty (another leader running the Trinamool vote machinery) is under our watch,“ said DC-north Subhankar Sinha Roy . It means a section of the ruling party “vote machinery“ is free to test their muscle against the police baton.

What has added to the cops' anxiety is a sudden decision by Trinamool activist and syndicate player Bhajai Sardar to throw his weight in the polls. Many see this as a tactical move by the ruling party to increase their presence in polling booths in the Rajarhat-New Town constituency .

Bidhannagar police, who are trying to rein in syndicate members, are awa re of several outsiders who are likely to be pushed in by the ruling party . “With elections in Bhatpara and Ti tagarh the same day , we don't expect trouble from North 24Parganas,“ said a source.

But inputs from Bidhannagar and Kolkata Police suggests that the likes of Ravi and Raju Naskar or Kanpuria Shankar will not have it easy .Sources confirmed that all these “big players“ of Beliaghata will be under watch through the weekend till voting is over in Salt Lake. De tectives are on the trail of criminals like Hartal who had played a major role in fanning disturbance in the Salt Lake civic polls last year and during voting on Thursday in Beliaghata. “The arrest of men like SK Vinod will instill confidence among voters. We have taken him in custody till April 25 and hope to keep him till April 30 because we have leads that he had plans for Jadavpur and Sonarpur South cons tituencies,“ said a senior officer.

Salt Lake cops plan to seal Salt Lake 24 hours before voting. Central forces and cops will search guesthouses and slums for outsiders. Even the footbridges connecting Salt Lake with Lake Town and Golaghata will be sealed.

Central forces will guard all entry points from Chingrihata, Beliaghata, Kadapara, Laboni connector, Ultadanga and Lake Town. Sector V and Nayapatti will have restricted entry . “We will check all vehicles entering Salt Lake. People may be asked to show Icards,“ said an officer. Kolkata Police will set up nakas at Patpukur, Hudco crossing, Phoolbagan and Beliaghata.