New Delhi, April 22 -- West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi announced the launch of a 24x7 Citizen Helpline to ensure free, fair, and fear-free elections in the forthcoming two-phase Assembly polls. In a statement issued from the office of the Governor yesterday, the decision to open the Helpline had been taken amid several meetings the Governor had with the public during the last few days, expressing apprehensions over the issue of pre-poll and post-poll violence in the state.

According to the statement, while the state administration and the police, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI), have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure fear-free elections, the Lok Bhavan has established a dedicated 24x7 Helpline to assist the citi...