Tripura State Rifles (TSR) will deploy around 800 personnel, led by two commandants, to assist in the upcoming elections in Assam and West Bengal.

Voting for the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly is scheduled in two phases — April 23 for 152 constituencies and April 29 for 142 constituencies. Meanwhile, the 126-member Assam Assembly will go to polls on April 9, with counting for both states slated for May 4.

A senior officer said that the Ministry of Home Affairs had requested the deployment of TSR personnel in these poll-bound states. “In response, we are sending 10 companies of Tripura State Rifles. They will first be stationed in Assam before moving to West Bengal. The force of approximately 800 jawans, drawn from the ad hoc battalion, will be led by Amarjit Debbarma IPS, Commandant of the 9th Battalion, and Alak Bhattacharya, CO of the 8th Battalion,” the officer said.

The personnel are expected to leave Tripura for Assam around March 23 or 24.