J&K, Jharkhand to get 51k personnel for poll security

These are in addition to 90,000 deployed in the states

Over 51,000 paramilitary personnel will be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand over the next few days ahead of the Assembly elections, in addition to the existing deployment in these states.

The Union Home Ministry, in consultation with the Election Commission (EC), has finalised the security detail for the states, where polling will be held between November 25 and December 20, with counting slated for December 23.

Around 38,100 personnel (381 companies) from CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and the state police reserve units will be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, while 13,600 personnel (136 companies) will be put on duty in Jharkhand, said a senior Home Ministry official. While Jammu and Kashmir faces threat from Pakistan-based terror outfits, Jharkhand is threatened by Maoists. Both states already have large security presence to tackle their respective menaces.

The fresh deployment will mainly provide security to poll-related functions while the already deployed contingent will look after general security.

Personnel in the fresh deployment will escort polling parties and man polling booths. They will also coordinate with the regular units in both the states.

Officials said there are about 65,000 CRPF personnel already deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, besides the Army, BSF and SSB personnel for counter-terror operations. Jharkhand has around 25,000 CRPF personnel for anti-Maoist operations.

The security establishment is not leaving anything to chance considering the challenges before the administration in conducting the elections, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Security officials said terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, with the aid of Pakistani spy agency Inter Services Intelligence will try to derail the election process in Jammu and Kashmir.

In another move, the EC has announced the setting up of a Control Room in Delhi for monitoring complaints and other election-related issues.