Gandhinagar, MAM, Polytechnic colleges to remain closed for 3 days

Jammu, Oct 6: A stringent three-tier security grid, like all other district headquarters of J&K, has been put in place around counting centres in Jammu district for safe and smooth counting of votes polled for the J&K Legislative Assembly on October 8.

Meanwhile, in connection with the counting of votes, the District Election Officer (DEO), Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya has also issued orders for three-day closure of three educational institutions.

These institutions are Padmashree Padma Sachdev College for Women, Gandhinagar, Jammu; Government MAM College, Jammu and Government Polytechnic, Bikram Chowk, Jammu.

“In connection with counting of votes for the General Election to J&K Legislative Assembly-2024, it is hereby ordered that these educational institutions shall remain closed for other activities on October 7, 8 and 9, 2024,” DEO ordered.

Counting of votes of all assembly segments of Jammu district will take place in MA M College and Government Polytechnic.

According to DEO Jammu, strong Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) rooms were set up for secure storage and sealing of the EVMs. Full security measures were in place to prevent unauthorised access.

After the culmination of elections on October 1, as soon as all the polling parties, dispatched to all eleven assembly segments, reached back, their Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were collected and put in two strong rooms established at MAM College and Government Polytechnic.

Both the strong rooms were sealed in the presence of candidates and observers. Extensive security arrangements were put in place and counting staff was also properly trained, DEO stated.

District Election authorities stated that all critical aspects of arrangements including security, law and order, manpower, and logistics (including Public Address System and LCD screen) were well taken care of, as per the directions of the Election Commission of India, while making extensive preparations to ensure a peaceful and smooth counting process.

“Due caution has been taken to follow all protocols to ensure smooth real-time election updates,” they said.

Only authorised counting agents of contesting candidates besides staff will be allowed to enter inside the counting hall, they added.

Jammu district has eleven assembly segments, which went to polls in the third and last phase of assembly elections on October 1.

Similar security arrangements for counting of votes have been put in place in the other nine district headquarters of the region, which has a total of 43 assembly constituencies out of 90 segments.

The first two phases of three-phased elections were held on September 18 and 25.