500 Companies already engaged for Amarnath Yatra, Addl 500 Companies to arrive
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Jammu, Aug 22
The preparations for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are in full swing, and the Election Commission has sounded the bugle for the electoral process. The election process has officially commenced, and in the next two to three days, 600 additional companies of paramilitary forces are expected to arrive in the Union Territory to ensure smooth and peaceful polling.
In the coming days, the deployment of security forces across all Assembly constituencies will start. Close to one lakh security personnel will be stationed throughout the region for election duties, including forces already engaged in the security of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. Nearly 500 companies are currently stationed for the Yatra, and an additional 500 companies will reinforce the security setup for the elections.
For highly sensitive polling stations and booths, security will be tightened further. Around 15 to 20 personnel will be deployed at each sensitive polling booth, with specific strategies in place to handle more vulnerable areas. In less sensitive booths, 5 to 10 security personnel will be positioned to ensure peace and order.
Vidhi Kumar Birdi, IGP Kashmir Zone confirmed that security personnel are already in place at critical locations. These measures will mirror those taken during the Lok Sabha elections, especially in areas that are sensitive to terror-related threats and disturbances.
The election is expected to be conducted in phases, with the first two phases covering 50 Assembly constituencies. The majority of these constituencies lie in Kashmir and the districts that have been historically affected by insurgency. In these areas, security measures will be particularly stringent to ensure a peaceful voting process.
Authorities are leaving no stone unturned to maintain law and order during the polls, with an emphasis on curbing any potential threats to democracy. Voters can expect a robust security arrangement that will enable them to cast their votes in a safe and secure environment.
