Friday, April 14 2006 12:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: For the first time in West Bengal, the Election Commission has decided to install digital cameras at sensitive booths and where voters do not have photo identity cards for the assembly elections beginning on April 17 to check electoral malpractices.

The Commission was confident that this would help detect cases of impersonation, keep a record of those without identity cards and also prevent false voting, according to Chief Electoral Officer Debasish Sen.

However, the booths, where digital cameras would be installed, would not be disclosed till the last moment.

Sen said the Commission has procured 3,000 digital cameras through the West Bengal government for the five-phase elections.

"The state government has purchased 3,000 digital camera on the advice of Election Commission which will be used to identify cases of impersonation during the forthcoming election and also for documentation purposes," he said.

Since the number of booths in the first phase of election in the maoist-hit districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore on April 17 would be about 12,000, the cameras would be utilised on the basis of requirement.

The same number of cameras would be installed in all phases of polls covering almost similar number of booths, he said.