Kolkata, April 6 (IANS) Demanding deployment of Central forces at polling stations for their security, polling officials across districts in West Bengal on Saturday threatened not to take part in the electoral process without Central troopers. A group of polling officials organised protests in Coochbehar, Howrah and South Kolkata as they are “afraid” of their security following the death of a poll official, Rajkumar Ray, whose body was found on train track near north Bengal’s Raiganj station during last year’s panchayat election. “If we do not get the assurance of Central force deployment, we will not go to the polling booths. We are not protesting on behalf of any party, but for our lives,” said a protesting member at Coochbehar.

Bengal poll officials demand Central forces at booths