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ECI removes seven CAPF personnel from Bengal poll duty for attending an Iftar party.
CAPF personnel are prohibited from accepting invitations, gifts, or any hospitality during election duties. (PTI image used for representational purposes only)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel from poll duties in West Bengal after they attended an Iftar party, breaching the code of conduct.
The incident occurred in the first week of March in the Samserganj area of Murshidabad district, a region that witnessed communal violence in April 2025.
ECI Tightens Monitoring
Varying degrees of punishment have been imposed on the CAPF personnel. Out of the seven, three personnel were sent to a seven-day paramilitary jail custody. Two others were issued a formal reprimand as a warning, while departmental proceedings have been initiated against the remaining two, with the possibility of further penalties following a full inquiry.
EC officials reaffirmed the blanket prohibition on CAPF personnel accepting invitations, gifts, or any hospitality during election duties. “Such violations undermine the impartiality of forces deployed for free and fair polls,” a senior EC source told reporters.
The incident has now been incorporated into mandatory pre-deployment training conducted by company commandants across CAPF units, serving as a real-world cautionary example. This case is now cited by company commandants in all training sessions before deployment.
The move comes amid persistent allegations from opposition parties, including the BJP and others, who have multiple times accused CAPF teams of receiving undue favours like lavish invitations or accommodations from local influencers. These claims have fueled concerns over potential bias in poll-bound West Bengal.
To address these concerns, the ECI has rolled out the following proactive measures:
- Geo-tagging of vehicles: Real-time GPS tracking of all CAPF convoys
- Daily reporting protocols: Mandatory logs of interactions and movements
- Random audits: Surprise checks on personnel activities
Sources said the punishments are deliberately stricter this time to set a precedent. “The message is clear: no exceptions,” an insider noted.
Ongoing Vigilance Amid Upcoming Elections
The ECI is conducting back-to-back law-and-order review meetings with West Bengal’s Director General of Police (DGP) and senior officials. Authorities have been instructed to pass these strict guidelines down to the “last man in the forces” to ensure uniform implementation.
With the West Bengal Assembly elections approaching, the action underscores the ECI’s commitment to maintaining neutrality and enforcing rules without compromise.
March 25, 2026, 1:31 PM IST
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