Over 300 companies of central forces on election duty in J&K

In view of high threat perception, Central government has decided to deploy 330 companies of Central Armed Police Forces and entire police force at the disposal of Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure violence- free Lok Sabha polls.

Sources told the Deccan Herald that final touches were given to security preparedness for Lok Sabha elections in a high- level security meeting.

“It was decided that CAPFs would be mobilised from internal resources and sought from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and local police would be rotated from the districts and posted on election duty,” they said.

A senior officer said a total of 330 companies of CAPF will be deployed for polls.
“We have sought over 100 additional companies from the MHA while rest of the companies would be mobilised from the internal resources,” he said.

“The deployment would be completed at least four days ahead of elections in all areas including polling stations,” he said. “All sensitive areas falling in the Lok Sabha segment, polling stations and their adjacent areas would be properly sanitised well ahead of the elections.”

While four Lok Sabha seats  including Jammu-Poonch, Udhampur-Doda, Anantnag-Pulwama and Srinagar-Budgam would go to polls in four phases, Baramulla-Kupwara and Ladakh constituencies would have election in one phase.

Sources said apart from internal security, the government had also put Army and Border Security Forces on high alert along the Line of Control  and International Border.

“Army and BSF were already on high alert well ahead of the elections following reports that militants would try to infiltrate inside the Indian territory to disturb the elections,” they said.

Meanwhile, to review the security arrangements and other  issues related to smooth conduct of Lok Sabha elections, J&K Principal Secretary, Home Department Suresh Kumar chaired a meeting in Jammu on Tuesday.

It was decided that IGP Kashmir and IGP Jammu will work out the requirement of forces and deployment plans at micro-level in their respective divisions,” he said.
Special Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar said they have sensitised all wings of police and coordination among different agencies is being forged to strengthen intelligence gathering.