Army on high alert ahead of polling in J&K

With the Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency going for polls on Thursday in the second phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army has taken over the heights in Chenab Valley belt to thwart possibility of any attempt by militants to strike in the once militancy infested Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts.

Sources told Deccan Herald that security forces have also been put on high alert in Udhampur and Kathua districts to meet with any eventuality on or before the polling.

“The Army has already taken positions all along the heights of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban and started dominant patrolling to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to shift to plain areas to carry out terror strike,” they said.

With authorities declaring Doda as militant-free district, the presence of some militants in pockets of Kishtwar and Ramban districts is giving authorities sleepless nights, they added. A senior police officer said the heights of Kishtwar district are also linked to Anantnag district of Kashmir Valley and the possibility of militants infiltrating into this side can’t be ruled out.

Deputy Inspector General Police Doda-Ramban range Ashkoor Wani said the Army has been dominating heights of Doda belt as a part of measures to maintain pressure on few surviving militants, “keep confidence among the voters and ensure peaceful polling.”

“Similar security arrangements had been made during the previous elections. Though the militancy has declined considerably during the past five years, we are taking no chances. We have made same, or rather more strict, arrangements for the elections this time as compared to 2009,” he said.

Authorities are also on alert as polling is scheduled in communally sensitive Kishtwar town which was rocked by riots on August 9 last. Sources said the authorities have already kept the Army on alert in sensitive Kishtwar town on the day of polling to meet with any situation.