New Delhi: Altogether 222 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) comprising about 22,000 personnel would be deployed across the country for the upcoming four-phased polls to Lok Sabha and Assemblies of four States to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of the democratic exercise.

According to a Union Home Ministry decision, most of the deployment would be done in terrorism and naxalism-affected states like Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Bihar and Orissa.

At least 105 companies of the force would be deployed for poll duties during the first phase on April 20 in five States - Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Bihar and Orissa, a CRPF spokesman said.

For the second phase on April 26, 32 companies would be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa and Bihar, while 70 companies would be put on duty during the third phase on May 5 in Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Kerala, Mizoram and Uttar Pradesh, he said.

During the fourth phase of elections on May 10, 39 companies would be rotated in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, J and K, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Kerala, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, he said.

Besides, 32 companies would be kept on stand-by in various states to meet any urgent need.