Indian Election Commission limits gatherings, entrance to Nandigram ahead of polls

India's election commission today imposed prohibitory orders which bar gathering of five or more persons at a place in Nandigram assembly constituency in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district.

The order comes a day ahead of polling battle in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is pitted against her rival Subhendu Adhikary of BJP, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The EC has also mounted an aerial surveillance of the area with the help of a helicopter.

People who are not voters of Nandigram are not being allowed to enter the assembly constituency in view of the sensitivity, said an official of the election commission.

"Nandigram is a sensitive constituency with high-profile candidates like Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikary. We want to ensure that the law and order situation is not compromised and people can vote freely without fear," an EC official said, adding "that is the reason for imposing the prohibitory orders, which will be in place till Friday midnight. A person who is not a voter of Nandigram will not be allowed to enter the area till the polling is over."

Twenty-two companies of federal armed security forces will be deployed in Nandigram constituency, which has a total of 355 polling booths and 75 percent of them will have a webcasting facility, the official added.

"Vehicles are being thoroughly checked before they are allowed to enter Nandigram. No outside vehicles are being allowed in," the official also said.

The EC has also decided to deploy a 22-personnel quick response team (QRT) in the area on the polling day tomorrow, the official said.