Wednesday, March 15 2006 18:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Acting on the directives of the Election Commission, the Left Front government in West Bengal has strengthened security in the maoist-hit districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia for next month's assembly elections in the state.

Fool-proof security measures were being taken in the three maoist-infested districts for peaceful polls in the first phase, IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said today (Mar 15 2006).

Home Secretary P R Roy said the state government was awaiting the Home ministry's response to its demand for deployment of 600 companies of central forces by March 31.

''We don't have any information from the Home Ministry about central forces deployment prior to the poll, but we expect that it will mature by March 31,'' Roy said.

However, reports said that 60 companies of CRPF would be available by April 2, followed by 100 companies of BSF by April 10 and 15 companies of SSB by April 12.

The Home Secretary said that law and order in the state was today reviewed at a high-level meeting, attended by Chief Secretary A K Deb, DGP S Awasthi and himself.

Roy said that the state government had been sending daily report on the state's law and order situation to the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, the IGP (law and order) denied reports in a section of the press that police personnel, posted in the three Maoist-hit districts, had applied for either mass transfer or leave.

''There have been no requests for mass leave or transfer and the morale of the police force in the three districts is high,'' he added.