Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 16: In view of spurt in militant attacks including political killing, the State Government has sent an SOS to the Union Home Ministry seeking at least 250 additional companies of para-military forces for peaceful conduct of by-election to two Lok Sabha seats of Srinagar and Anantnag, which will go to polls on April 9 and 12 respectively.
In the meantime, the Government has mobilized 41 companies of Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) and deployed 26 of them in the two poll-bound Lok Sabha constituencies for pre-poll security including for protection to election rallies, contestants, political leaders and workers and polling stations etc.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the State Government has sent an SOS to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking immediate availability of at least 250 additional companies of para-military forces for ensuring free, fair and smooth conduction of elections to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies, which would be high-pitched battles with big-wigs like National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s brother, Mufti Tassaduq and Pradesh Congress president GA Mir deciding to join the fray among others.
“We have sought at least 250 additional companies for the by-elections. The matter has been taken up with the Union Home Ministry on emergency basis. Though their response was awaited, we are confident that the MHA would accede to our request keeping in view the sensitive nature of the State,” sources said.
However, with large number of para-military forces getting free after Assembly election in five States, the Ministry of Home Affairs, which controls all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the country, didn’t seems to be averse to sending additional forces for the by-polls. Normally, the State had to manage by-polls security on its own. However, Jammu and Kashmir being sensitive State and militancy-related violence up during first two and half months of this year, the State has sought additional forces for the elections.
When approached for comments, Director General of Police (DGP) Dr Shesh Pal Vaid confirmed that they have approached the Union Home Ministry for additional para-military forces for by-elections to Srinagar and Lok Sabha seats. He said all necessary security arrangements for the elections will be made.
According to sources, the Government didn’t want to disturb existing Security Grid in the hinterland as well as Anti-Infiltration Grid on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) for the purpose of election security as it feels that enough security was required at the borders and general areas to meet the challenges of infiltration and militancy in the Valley.
“Both the Security Grids, on the border and hinterland, will remain intact and will not be disturbed keeping in view the challenges posed by the militants. In view of this, there will be additional deployment of para-military forces and JKAP for the by-elections to two Lok Sabha seats,” sources said.
They added that the authorities have also mobilized 41 companies of Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) for the two Lok Sabha seats. While 26 companies have already been deployed for pre-election security in Srinagar and Anantnag, 15 companies will be deployed on the eve of elections.
Sources said, in addition, some JKP and IRP personnel would also be shifted from peaceful areas for poll-bound segments.
Srinagar Lok Sabha seat will go to polls on April 9 and Anantnag on April 12. Counting will be held on April 15. The twin Lok Sabha seats comprised 31 Assembly segments and it would be endeavour of the Government to provide security to all candidates and their election rallies apart from the other stakeholders.
Sources said authorities were in the process of making fool-proof security arrangements for the elections to both the seats in view of campaigning by the big-wigs as prominent leaders have decided to join the fray from both the seats.
Sources said the Government has suggested that the para-military forces that were already deployed in Kashmir last year to tackle the unrest should be sent for poll duty as they are well aquainted with the situation in Kashmir.
Besides these para-military forces, the security forces stationed across Kashmir will be deployed for security and area domination during campaigning for these polls that have already started with the announcement of the candidates by the PDP and NC-Congress alliance.
The holding of by-polls in Kashmir especially in violatile South Kashmir, which has seen worst voilence last year, is major challenge for the security agencies. Even this year, the protests and stone throwing clashes are frequent in Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts of South Kashmir where three civilians were killed during clashes that erupted between protesters and security forces during operations against militants. Eleven militants were killed by security forces in four gun battles in these districts recently.
The security agencies were trying hard to contain the violence in South Kashmir to prevent 2016 type of voilence and announcement of by-polls by Election Commission Of India (ECI) has thrown a major challenge before them.
Sources said that the security reiew meeting for the by-polls that was held recently in Srinagar decided to intensify security patrols in South Kashmir’s volatile areas to give a sense of security to the voters and the political activists.
The political activists especially former Panchs and Sarpanchs are fearing for their lives after the killing of former Sarpanch and NC worker Fayaz Ahmad of Kakapora village in Pulwama last week.
In the meantime, posters of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit, have appeared in various areas of South Kashmir’s Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts calling for the boycott of upcoming Parliament and Panchayat elections.
Separatist Hurriyat Conference has also called for poll boycott and security agencies apprehend voilence to step up during the election process.
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