Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 8: The Election Commission of India has directed the Chief Secretary and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir to deploy large number of their existing police forces and further augment them by induction and deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in the State.
In a letter written to Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, CEO Umang Narula and Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Election Commission has spelt out a series of directions to the Chief Secretary, the CEO, the District Magistrates and district police chiefs for ensuring peaceful Lok Sabha elections in the State.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a similar letter has gone to all the Chief Secretaries and CEOs of the States and the Union Territories.
“The Commission has observed that there is a tendency amongst the States to keep the Central Police Forces as `reserves’ and not actually deploy them on election related duties, thereby defeating the very purpose of augmenting the local forces with the CAPFs resulting in suboptimal benefits,’’ the letter said.
It directed that to ensure full and optimal utilization of the police forces including CAPFs and State Armed Police (SAP), the State Deployment Plan shall be prepared taking into account the available forces of the State Government /SAP and CAPF, made available by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Election Commission has directed that the State Deployment Plan will be prepared in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer of the State and his recommendations on the quantum of forces to be deployed to different constituencies shall merit serious consideration in drawing up the plan. The State Level Force Co-ordinator appointed by the MHA will assist the CEO in this task.
“The Commission has persuaded the MHA to allow splitting of sections and deployment of half section of CAPFs in the areas, which are not militancy affected. But these forces must not be deployed in less than one section strength in militancy hit areas. The SP of the concerned district shall certify in writing whether the areas is militancy affected or otherwise,’’ the EC communiqué said.
It added: “the State Deployment Plan will factor in requirements of different districts based on District Deployment Plans, which will be prepared by every district taking into account the forces being made available by the State Government to the district, the CAPFs and other forces being made available from the State poll to the district and available forces with the district. The District Deployment Plan shall be formulated and finalized by the District Magistrate/District Election Officer and Superintendent of Police. The Election Observer on his arrival to the district shall be briefed by the DM and SP and his views should be considered’’.
The Election Commission communiqué said the District Deployment Plan shall ensure that all polling stations are covered with adequate static duty forces reinforced by necessary mobile patrolling at the level of zones and sector with particular attention to deploy CAPFs in constituencies and polling stations identified as sensitive and hyper sensitive.
“Deployment of any force other than the State’s own uniformed police force or the CAPFs will require prior approval of the Commission,’’ the letter said, adding the CAPFs would undertake area domination till two days before the polling day. After that, they would be drafted for static duty at the polling stations.
The Election Commission has directed that the CAPF should be used during the pre-poll period for the purpose of area domination, conducting flag marches and confidence building among the electors and checking of border areas.
“The District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police shall finalize the criticality of polling stations giving the reasons in accordance with the instructions of the Commission. This list shall be kept ready and finalized on arrival of the Observers and consulting them,’’ the Commission said, adding it would be responsibility of the DMs and SPs to ensure that the polling parties and static armed force parties reaching polling booths well in time.
“The arrangements for security of contesting candidates, according to perception of threat to their lives should also be made and candidates provided security cover after an assessment of the threat. Security should not be provided in a routine manner. All relevant factors must be considered and taken into account,’’ the communiqué said.
The Election Commission has directed that the Ministry of Home Affairs shall get all International Borders sealed well in advance to prevent any movement of anti-social elements crossing the borders to disrupt electioneering process. All State Governments shall seal inter-State borders/inter-district border well in advance to prevent infiltration of anti-social and disruptive elements from the neighbouring States/districts, where polls are being held.
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