Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 4: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed administration in seven districts of the Kashmir valley to provide security to all major political parties, whose candidates were in fray for by-election to two Lok Sabha seats of Srinagar and Anantnag, right up to their block presidents to ensure that they were not targeted by the militants and other anti-national elements during the campaigning.
The Election Commission has also decided to shift some vulnerable polling stations in the two Lok Sabha constituencies subject to consensus among the political parties contesting the elections.
The Commission has conveyed series of directions to the administration in the two Lok Sabha constituencies after obtaining inputs about militants and separatists becoming active in some areas going to the elections to target political workers for causing election boycott, official sources told the Excelsior.
They said the Election Commission’s directions were aimed at good campaigning by the contestants and their party leaders for reasonable turnout in both the Lok Sabha constituencies, if not heavy polling, amidst calls of poll boycott from separatists.
“It was in the context of ensuring good turnout in both the Lok Sabha constituencies that the Election Commission’s directive has gone to administration of all seven districts to provide security cover to leaders of political parties, right up to the block president, which were in fray for the elections,” they added.
Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats, which go to polls on April 9 and 12 respectively, comprised seven districts including Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal (Srinagar), Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian (Anantnag).
Sources said the district administration officials have been conveyed the Election Commission guidelines and asked to implement them within two days.
When approached for comments, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shantmanu confirmed the Election Commission directive to administration in all seven districts on providing security cover right up to block presidents of political parties and shifting of polling stations from some areas to safer places subject to consensus among the contesting parties.
Shantmanu, who is regularly monitoring the process for by-election to two Lok Sabha seats of Kashmir, said all possible measures were being taken for good turnout in both the segments.
The Commission, according to sources, has also directed the administration to shift polling stations, where there was apprehension of militancy-related violence. However, before shifting the polling stations, the administration has been asked to take candidates of all political parties into confidence.
In addition, the Commission has declared that none of the total 3194 polling stations set up in the two Lok Sabha seats will be categorized as normal.
“All polling stations have been declared as sensitive and hyper-sensitive,” sources said, adding that the authorities have been asked to plan security of polling stations accordingly. Meanwhile, sources said 70 advanced companies of additional para-military forces have reached parts of Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats for sanitization of polling stations, sensitive areas and providing protections to some leaders. Rest of the 130 companies would be reached in the Kashmir valley in next three to four days and will take over command of polling stations along with local police personnel.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved 200 additional companies of para-military forces, mainly comprising Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), for the by-elections.
The Election Commission had mobilized its all resources for ensuring at least reasonable, if not very good, turnout in both the Lok Sabha constituencies of Srinagar and Anantnag, sources said, adding that security arrangements for the elections were being regularly monitored by the Commission and the administration.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel