New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The Election Commission of India on Monday said that the sending central forces in advance for ‘Area Domination’ in concerned poll bound states has been a standard practice.

Reacting to some media reports reported that on Central Police forces being sent specifically to State of West Bengal, the ECI said “Central Police Forces (CPFs) are routinely sent to all the States and Union Territories (UTs) where Lok Sabha/ Vidhan Sabha elections are to take place, for advance area domination, especially in the critical and vulnerable sectors which are identified by meticulous advance reviews and concrete feedback from various sources including political parties and entities”, This practice has been going on since late 1980s, the Commission added.

The Election Commission also said that during Lok Sabha elections 2019 also, Central Forces were sent to all States and UTs and the same has been done in all State Elections.

In the instant case also the CPFs have been sent to all the four states namely Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and UT of Puducherry where Assembly Elections are to take place in April-May.

The orders for CPF deployment were issued to the Chief Secretaries, the DGPs and the Chief Electoral Officers of these five States /UT on the February 16.

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