“We have information that Maoists will try to disrupt the poll process. The police should take adequate measures to counter any such event,” said Md Selim, CPM state secretariat member and leader of party’s Kolkata district committee.

He added: “We know there are groups who call for boycotting polls, but this time around they have been suspiciously silent.”

CPM sources claimed a section of intellectuals and members of rights organisations are providing shelter to Maoists in several parts of the city including Jadavpur, Belgachia, Metiabruz, Garden Reach and Behala.

Sources in the state Election Commission (EC) confirmed that the CPM, among other political parties, has expressed apprehensions of massive violence on poll day.

“We asked the government to deploy at least two armed jawans at every booth. They, however, expressed their inability to meet the demands of the Commission and requested the Centre to provide additional forces,” said an official with the state EC.