Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh encounter specialist Ajay Pal Sharma, deployed as police observer in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas, was seen issuing stern warning to Falta TMC candidate Jehangir Khan, saying he will be “dealt with properly” if his people continue to “threaten” the electors in the constituency of poll-bound state.In a video going viral, Ajay Pal Sharma was seening warning Jehangir Khan’s family: “Tell him, we’ll deal properly with him if his men continue to threaten…don’t cry or regret it then.”Hailing Ajay Sharma’s as “Singham” of Uttar Pradesh, BJP‘s I-T department chief Amit Malviya said the UP encounter specialist “wasted no time in setting the tone, firmly reading the riot act to the family members of Abhishek Banerjee’s close aide, Jehangir Khan”. “The message is loud and clear: the era of intimidation and impunity is over. Law and order will prevail, and those attempting to influence the electoral process will be held accountable,” Malviya said.However, the ruling TMC promptly reacted to the video by targetting the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and the officer himself, asking him to keep his “heroics in check”.“My Fair & Lovely boy — we’re the kind who can deal with both your ‘small Fanta’ and ‘big Fanta.’ So keep your heroics in check,” Mahua Moitra, a fierce critic of the BJP said in a post on X.Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is Mamata Banerjee‘s ally in INDIA bloc, hit out at the Ajay Pal Sharma, who he called a “agenda-driven agent” form the BJP.“These are all unregistered underground members masquerading as officers. We shall neither let them flee nor go to ground. They will be tracked down, dug out if need be, and made to face legal punishment for their misdeeds,” the Samajwadi Party chief wrote on X.The campaign in West Bengal officially ended on Monday at 5 PM, marking the final phase of political outreach before the upcoming polls on April 29. The results will be out on May 4.The Election Commission has planned to retain 700 companies of central forces in Bengal after April 29 polls, with 500 companies earmarked exclusively for law and order duties, officials said.The EC also plans to deploy another 1,920 companies by mid-April, taking the total to 2,400 companies for the polls.The 500 companies to remain for law and order comprise 200 companies of CRPF, 150 of BSF, 50 of CISF, 50 of ITBP, and 50 of SSB, indicating anticipation of post-poll violence, retaliatory clashes, intimidation, or other disturbances. Another 200 companies will remain for EVM, strong room, and counting center security until counting ends.The post-poll arrangement indicates the Centre expects serious risk of post-poll unrest, an official said.EC officials are cautious about post-poll violence as over 1,300 cases occurred in 2021, with 90% between May 2 and 5, before the government took charge. CM Mamata Banerjee’s swearing-in for a third term was on May 5, 2021, until then, EC was in charge of law and order.
