Elaborate security arrangements in place for phase-I polling

Srinagar, Sep 17: Amid elaborate security arrangements, seven districts in Jammu and Kashmir are set to vote on Wednesday in the first phase of the assembly elections, the first to be held in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

Police said that the security apparatus has been fortified to ensure a safe and fair voting process.

They said that the joint security of Police and paramilitary forces had reached the polling stations.

“We have also carried out intense domination,” a senior Police officer here said.

He said that a multi-tier security arrangement is in place to allow people to exercise their democratic rights without fear.

“The security setup involves a coordinated effort between the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police,” the senior Police officer said.

He said that security forces had been deployed at all levels, from strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are stored to polling stations across Kashmir.

On Monday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said that the security grid is alert and vigilant to thwart any attempts to destabilise the situation in Kashmir.

“Our goal is to create an environment where voters feel safe and come out in large numbers to participate in the democratic process,” he said.