ECI orders tourists to leave Digha, Mandarmani and coastal resorts in Purba Medinipur ahead of polling

All tourist destinations covered under the order fall within the Ramnagar assembly constituency, which has been represented by three-time Trinamool Congress MLA Akhil Giri in the outgoing assembly.

The order is part of Phase 1 enforcement ahead of polling on April 23, with Phase 1 covering 152 constituencies across north Bengal and parts of south Bengal. The article notes that West Bengal and Tamil Nadu go to polls on April 23.

Officials announce that eight districts have been placed under special surveillance ahead of Phase 1 as part of the enforcement sweep by the Election Commission.

Officials describe the eviction order as unprecedented for an assembly election cycle and indicate the possibility of extending restrictions to other areas if security concerns warrant it.

The Election Commission of India, via the West Bengal chief electoral officer, issued an order directing tourists and non-residents to vacate Digha, Mandarmani, Tajpur, Udaipur and Shankarpur by 6pm on April 21, and directing hotels to ensure rooms are not occupied by non-residents from 6pm April 21 until polling concludes on April 23. The order also bars political party campaigners from staying in the area during the period. Violations are punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (6-12 months jail). The 48-hour window extends across the coastal belt for the polling period.

Following the official order, police stations covering Digha, Digha Mohana and the Mandarmani coastline began public loudspeaker announcements on Monday night, instructing tourists to leave the destinations by Tuesday, 6pm.

Suranjan Das, Satyaranjan Pal, and Souvik Nandi, executive magistrates with the Flying Squad assigned to Bhabanipur, were suspended after a formal complaint. They were on duty from 9pm on April 17 to 7am on April 18, but were found idle outside the Bhabanipur police station during a surprise expenditure observer visit.