Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 19: Security agencies have projected a demand for 550 to 600 additional companies of Central Police Force (CPFs) if the Assembly elections were to be held in seven phases like last year and more force (nearly 750 companies) if the elections were reduced to five phases.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra projected the demand before full Election Commission yesterday when the Commission discussed security preparedness of the elections and phase wise requirement of the police. The Election Commission wanted seven phases to be reduced to four or five this time in view of delay caused in announcement of elections.
However, the Election Commission was yet to take a final call on whether to hold elections in the month of December in extreme adverse weather conditions or defer them to April-May. The Commission had said yesterday in Srinagar that it will announce its decision soon.
The last Assembly elections in the State in 2008 were held in seven phases.
Sources said the police department has projected that it would require between 550 to 600 additional companies of para-military forces for seven phase Assembly elections but the number would go up if the phases are reduced to four or five as was being discussed by the Election Commission for early completion of the elections due to weather conditions.
The Commission during security preparedness with civil and police administration had discussed security arrangements and phase wise requirement of the Central Police Force.
“If the elections are held in December it is not going to be a seven phase poll like the last year as they would consume lot of time and delay the elections up to first week or even second week of January, when the weather is very harsh and several areas of the State get snow bound. The phases would be confined to four or five,’’ sources said, adding that the State would then need nearly 700 additional companies of para-military forces for the elections.
Security always remained a major issue in the State elections—whether they are of Parliament, Assembly, Urban Local Bodies or Panchayats as the candidates and polling stations remained target of the militant outfits with a view to disturb the elections. Sources said it was in view of this that the Election Commission didn’t want to reduce number of phases drastically excepting two or three and that too after the Union Home Ministry agrees to provide sufficient number of para-military forces to the State.
When approached for comments, DGP K Rajendra said the State police has already projected the demand for 550 to 600 additional para-military companies for peaceful conduct of Assembly elections for seven phases. “However, we will be needing more Central forces if number of phases had to be reduced,’’ he added.
Rajendra said police was fully prepared for the elections in terms of security arrangements and will ensure free and fair elections with the help of other security agencies as and when they are held.
“Our job is to provide save and conducive security environment for the elections and we will do that,’’ he said.
Sources said since elections to Jharkhand, a Naxalite infested State were also due in December-January, the Union Home Ministry will soon decide on number of additional para-military forces it can spare for Jammu and Kashmir as it also had to give enough forces to Jharkhand.
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