Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 31: In a major decision aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and thwart designs of Pakistan Army and Rangers to disturb polling process, the administration has identified at least 650 polling stations which would be shifted to safer alternate locations immediately if Pakistan resorted to any misadventure on the day of polling.
“The strategy of the administration was aimed at ensuring that polling process goes on uninterrupted even if there was shelling or firing from Pakistan side along the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector right from Kathua to Akhnoor and Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region, Kupwara and other parts of the Kashmir Valley,” official sources told the Excelsior.
They said the new strategy was necessitated in view of heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistan Rangers and Army on the IB and LoC respectively in Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Poonch districts in first week of October in which 10 civilians were killed and about 100 others were injured while there was massive destruction of civil property. Pakistan had also suffered extensive damage in the retaliatory firing.
Sources anticipated that frustrated over heavy losses suffered by Pakistan Rangers in retaliatory firing of the BSF, the forces across the border could resort to any mischief on the day of polling.
“To thwart Pakistani designs, authorities have identified about 650 polling stations along 198 kilometers international boundary from Kathua to Akhnoor and LoC in Poonch and Rajouri district of Jammu, Kupwara and other parts of Kashmir for which alternate arrangements were being made on war footing. The alternate polling stations will be identified for these polling stations well before the date of polling,” sources said.
Though initially, the authorities would name the polling stations on the borders, which fall within firing range of Pakistan, the alternate stations would be used if Pakistan resorts to any mischief on the borders.
“All arrangements were being made for the people living in border areas-both IB and LoC for emergency shifting of the polling stations either on the day of voting or earlier, depending upon the situation, if Pakistani troops try to disturb the polling process by resorting to mortar shelling and firing like they had done in first 10 days of November,” sources said.
Sources said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Election Commission of India was keen to see that the people living in forward areas in Jammu and Kashmir vote without any fear or under the shade of gun. It was in this context and their directives that the administration has identified alternate polling stations for the border people, which would be used if the need arise on the day of voting or even earlier to ensure that the people freely use their right to franchise even in case of any misadventure from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, first nomination was today filed in Leh for first phase of polling in 15 Assembly segments on November 25. November 5 is last date for filing nomination papers.
BJP candidate Chhering Dorjay filed his nomination paper from Leh Assembly constituency in the office of the Returning Officer Leh. He was accompanied by BJP MP from Ladakh Thupstan Chewang, Councilor Upper Leh Lobzang Nyantak, Councilor Kungyam Dorje Mutup, Councilor Marchelang Tsering Angchuk and other prominent party members.
BJP Ladakh today also declared party’s candidates for remaining 3 Assembly segments of Ladakh region. They are Aziz Munshi, retired Tehsildar for Kargil, Stanzin Lhakpa Surley, senior social worker for Zanskar and Stanzin Delik Sumur, former Executive Councilor Leh for Nubra.
PDP candidate for Kargil Assembly segment, Haji Anayat Ali today collected nomination form from the Returning Officer Kargil Mohammad Syed Khan.
Kargil district has 80,115 voters. Out of them, 59,439 voters are for Kargil constituency and 20,676 for Zanskar segment.
For exercise of the franchise during the election, 176 polling stations have been made for Kargil segment and 83 for Zanskar.
Shaday polling station of Zanskar Assembly segment is the highest polling station with an altitude of 13,850 feet and Hundarman Mal of Kargil Assembly segment is the lowest polling station at an altitude of 8,800 feet.
Akchamal polling station of Kargil has highest number of voters (1056) while Phosa polling station has lowest number of voters (15). Five polling stations will require helicopter service for transportation of men and material to conduct the elections.
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