The EC said there is an enhanced focus on informing, motivating, and facilitating voters in the remaining three phases of the parliamentary polls and state chief electoral officers have been asked to step up measures. 

Seeking to ensure a level playing field in the Lok Sabha elections, the EC ordered the removal of home secretaries of six states and West Bengal’s director general of police (DGP), besides the secretary of the general administrative departments of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh.

Rajeev Kumar, who went to Sandeshkhali on Wednesday and stayed there overnight to assess the situation in the troubled areas of North 24 Parganas of West Bengal, assured of strict action against those found involved in torturing women.

DGP Rajeev Kumar, accompanied by senior police officers including ADG South Bengal Supratim Sarkar, will first visit Sandeshkhali police station and later go to the restive area.