Will ensure smooth conduct of elections
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: Nearly 500 more companies of paramilitary forces are being deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for three-phase Assembly elections while almost an equal number of companies which were sent to the UT for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji too have been retained.
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“For the smooth conduct of electoral exercise, almost 500 more companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs) are being sent by the Union Home Ministry for deployment in Jammu and Kashmir. The companies have started reaching the UT and deployment will be complete within a week’s time,” sources told the Excelsior.
In addition to 500 more companies, an equal number of CAPF companies which were sent to Jammu and Kashmir by the Union Home Ministry ahead of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage in June, have also been retained in the UT and are being deployed for the Assembly elections being held in three phases on September 18 and 25 and October 1.
The paramilitary forces will be deployed for area domination patrolling, manning Polling Stations, venues of election rallies etc. Some of the companies have reached here while others will be reaching in the next few days. Complete deployment will be over in next one week.
Deployment will be more this time in hilly areas of Jammu region including Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur and Kathua districts where there is presence of the foreign terrorists, the sources said.
Already, the Defence Ministry has sent nearly 3000 troops in Jammu division for launching anti-terror operations and plugging infiltrations routes. Besides, 2000 additional soldiers of the BSF have also been deployed along the International Border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts to check intrusions by the terrorists. Nearly 1500 to 2000 Assam Rifles jawans are also being deployed.
Expressing confidence about smooth electoral process like the Parliamentary elections held in April-May this year, the officials said there has been adequate deployment of paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police for the Assembly elections.
In Jammu division, there has been more deployment of security forces in the upper reaches where the foreign terrorists are suspected to be hiding. Army has also been conducting regular patrols and has set up pickets in the mountainous areas to track down the terrorists and ensure that they don’t manage to strike.
In April-May, the Parliamentary elections in Jammu and Kashmir were conducted in five phases and were totally peaceful with voting turnout breaking the record of 25 years. In the Assembly elections, number of the candidates has been much more than Lok Sabha elections. For the first phase only, more than 250 candidates have joined the fray.
“Number of the rallies including those to be addressed by the VVIPs from New Delhi and other States is also going to be much higher and JKP along with paramilitary forces is fully geared up for the canvassing,” the sources said.
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