Multi-tier security arrangements at counting centres
Restrictions imposed in Jammu, Rajouri by DMs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR/ LEH, June 3: Fate of 100 candidates including bigwigs will be decided tomorrow when counting of votes will be taken up for six Parliamentary constituencies in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, both of which were part of erstwhile State of J&K in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, tomorrow morning and is expected to be completed by late evening amidst tight security arrangements at nine counting centres in J&K and two in Ladakh.
Multi-tier security arrangements have been put in place outside all counting centres including Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri in Jammu division; Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag in Kashmir and Leh and Kargil in Ladakh. Besides, three counting centres have been set up for migrant votes-one each in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PK Pole and all Returning Officers of their constituencies reviewed counting arrangements today. Everything is in place for smooth start of counting at 8 AM tomorrow. Trend will start coming around 10 AM and the authorities expect to complete the counting by tomorrow evening if everything goes well.
Chief Electoral Officer Pandurang K Pole said that extensive measures have been implemented to ensure the counting process is smooth, secure, and transparent. “Stringent police arrangements are in place to prevent any untoward incidents,” he added.
In Srinagar, the constituency with the highest number of candidates (24), the counting will take place occur at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC). The main contest will be among NC’s Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, PDP youth leader Waheed ur Rehman Para and Apni Party’s Ashraf Mir.
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Baramulla’s counting will take place at Government Degree College (Boys), Baramulla, where Omar Abdullah faces 21 competitors, including Sajjad Lone and Engineer Rashid.
Anantnag-Rajouri’s votes will be counted at Government Degree College (Boys) Anantnag and Government PG College Rajouri, where Mehbooba Mufti faces a significant challenge from NC’s Mian Altaf.
There were 34 candidates in fray for Jammu and Udhampur constituencies and 66 for Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri seats. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh (BJP) and two former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) are among the candidates in the contest whose fate will be known by tomorrow evening.
Ahead of the counting, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sachin Kumar Vaishya, who is Returning Officer for Jammu Lok Sabha seat and DC Rajouri OP Bhagat in whose district counting of seven Assembly segments of Anantnag-Rajouri seat will take place, have imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC.
Both District Magistrates have banned processions and sloganeering, use of Public Address System/loudspeakers and celebrations by any political party of candidates within the counting centres/venues; carrying of sticks , lathis, processions or big gatherings within a radius of 100 meters from the counting centres and bursting or throwing crackers on road or at public places on the day of counting.
“No victory procession/rallies or any sort of other rallies/processions by any candidates/political parties shall be allowed without prior permission of the DMs,” the orders read.
Both the orders, applicable within the territorial jurisdiction of Jammu and Rajouri districts will be applicable till June 5.
Fate of 12 candidates will be known after the counting of 11,08,206 votes in Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency at the Government Degree College Kathua. Prime contenders for the seat include Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh (BJP) and Choudhary Lal Singh (Congress) though former Minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori (DPAP) is also in the fray.
Dr Jitendra Singh, who is in the PMO for last 10 years, is seeking hat-trick from Udhampur seat having won it in 2014 and 2019 Parliamentary polls while Lal Singh represented the same constituency for 10 years from 2004 to 2014.
Similarly, fate of 22 candidates will be unlocked in the EVMs by 12,86,144 electorates in Jammu-Reasi Lok Sabha seat whose counting will take place at Government Polytechnic College and MAM College at Bikram Chowk.
The seat has witnessed direct contest between two-time BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma and Raman Bhalla (Congress). Jugal won the seat for two consecutive terms in 2014 and 2019 and prior to this was MLA for 12 years from 2002 to 2014 from Nagrota seat. Bhalla has also served as MLA and Minister for two terms from Gandhi Nagar constituency from 2002-2014.
“All arrangements are in place for the June 4 vote counting in Jammu. Three-tier security has been implemented,” the officials said.
Votes from seven Assembly constituencies will be counted at MAM College, while 11 constituencies will be tallied at Polytechnic College.
The administration has fully trained the staff and sensitized all polling agents for the counting process. This includes a detailed examination of the deployment of paramilitary and police personnel as well as the set up for counting staff and agents.
All counting staff are fully trained and all political parties and their agents have been briefed and issued I-cards. The arrangements are comprehensive, covering traffic and security,” the officials said.
CCTV cameras have been installed and videography arrangements are in place at the counting centers.
In Kathua, three-tier security is also in place for the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency counting scheduled for tomorrow.
As per the officials, enhanced security has been deployed along the International Border (IB) and inter-district checkpoints to monitor and prevent any anti-social or anti-national activities.
The counting center for Udhampur Lok Sabha seat is set up at the Government Degree College Kathua, equipped with multi-tier security and 24×7 CCTV surveillance.
“Votes from 18 Assembly segments, including Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts, will be counted in designated halls. Three halls are designated for counting Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) votes,” the officials said.
A total of 225 tables, each staffed by three personnel, will facilitate the counting process. Sixty tables are designated for ETPBS votes, each with a counting agent, a micro observer, a supervisor and an Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), the officials said.
The CCTV footage of the EVM strong rooms has been shared with the political parties’ representatives. Nearly 10,000 staff members will handle the entire counting process, including transferring Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from strong rooms to counting halls, they added.
Dr. Bilal Bhat, Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, stated that elaborate arrangements are ready for the counting at SKICC for the Srinagar constituency.
“A 3-tier security system is in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the process. Separate counting halls have been established for all 18 Assembly segments. The use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited inside the counting halls to maintain security and integrity,” he told reporters at SKICC today.
“EVMs from 18 assembly segments are already here at the strong room. There are 18 halls that have been set up, and each hall has 8 tables. Each table will have a counting supervisor, counting assistant, and a micro-observer,” the DC said.
Bhat said that from the Election Commission of India (ECI), 5 counting observers are also here, and they have carried out the necessary inspections. “As per guidelines, we have ensured all the arrangements for the polling day,” he said.
“The soul of the election is first the participation of people, which was exceptional, then comes the counting; all the steps have been taken to ensure free and fair elections,” he said.
The DC said that arrangements have also been made for the counting agents. “We have issued identity cards to 800 counting agents. They will also observe the counting process table-wise. Regarding security arrangements, a proper three-tier grid will be in place to ensure that the counting is carried out peacefully,” he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla, Amod Nagpure said that foolproof security arrangements have been made at Degree College Baramulla and Baramulla town.
“For the convenience of the locals, the road approaching the counting Centre has been designated a non-parking zone, with major diversion points established at Sangrama and Khanpora. All traffic coming from Srinagar towards Baramulla will be diverted through Sangrama, and traffic coming from Uri towards Baramulla will be diverted through Khanpora Bridge,” he said.
“I would like to appeal to people to avoid unnecessary travel and to travel only if needed. If they are traveling on these routes, I request them to follow the traffic diversion points and cooperate with the security forces and on-duty traffic police officials so that tomorrow passes smoothly and without hassle. We do not want people to face any inconvenience,” he said.
“Sufficient traffic diversion points have been set up in the town. There will be exceptions for emergency vehicles like ambulances, which can use these roads as restrictions do not apply to them. For those coming for the counting, including polling agents or officials, designated parking spots have been provided. Shuttle vehicles are available to transport employees from the parking spots to the counting center so that they do not have to travel on foot. Given the security arrangements in place, I am hopeful that the counting will be peaceful, the SSP said.
Keeping in view the possible celebrations in Srinagar, there will be half working day in various schools in Srinagar city. The schools like Presentation Convent, Tyndale Biscoe, Mallison and Burnhall will close before 11:30 tomorrow.
For lone Parliamentary constituency in the UT of Ladakh, all arrangements are in place in Leh and Kargil, the two district headquarters where 1,32,727 polled votes will be counted beginning 8 AM tomorrow.
Counting of votes cast in Leh district will be held at Leh and that of Kargil district at Kargil.
There are only three candidates in contest for Ladakh Lok Sabha seat including Tashi Gyalson (BJP), Tsering Namgyal (Congress) and Mohammad Haneefa Jan (Independent).
Gyalson is sitting Chairman-cum-CEC while Namgyal is Leader of Opposition in Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council. Jan was district president of National Conference for Kargil and contested the election as an Independent candidate with the support of Kargil units of NC and Congress.
BJP won Ladakh seat for two consecutive terms in 2014 and 2019.
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