North Kashmir fortified

Baramulla, Sep 30: As many as 400 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed in north Kashmir districts to ensure free and fearless phase-III of assembly polls on October 1, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) North Kashmir Range (NKR), Maqsood-ul-Zaman said on Monday.

He also said that all the election-related arrangements had been made as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Talking to Greater Kashmir, DIG NKR Maqsood-ul-Zaman said that all security arrangements had been made in all three districts of north Kashmir to ensure a free environment for voters on election day.

“Around 400 companies of CAPF, J&K Armed Police, and other forces have been deployed for polling in North Kashmir Range, and we have good cohesion and coherence among all the security agencies," Zaman said.

He said that during the deployment of forces, proper coordination meetings were held with all the CAPF to ensure good cohesion and better understanding with each other when deployed on the ground on the polling day or for other duties.

“All arrangements have been made as per the ECI guidelines. Whatever the guidelines are we have strictly followed them. I took a review to ensure that these arrangements are as per the directions,” he said.

The DIG North Kashmir expressed satisfaction with the arrangements in place and said that besides the deployment of forces, the collection of required equipment at distribution centres had been done properly.

He said that the overall deployment of CAPF was being supervised by the DIG CRPF, North Kashmir.

“We are jointly conducting visits to see the arrangements in the collection and distribution centres and other arrangements for the election process scheduled on October 1,” Zaman said.

He said that security forces and J&K Police will ensure a free, fair, and peaceful atmosphere for voters on election day.

“We are hopeful that people will come out and vote for whoever they have to. But we must give them a peaceful environment,” Zaman said.

He said that all the security concerns were under consideration and all contingency plans and law and order plans were in place.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Sopore, Divya D said that elaborate security arrangements had been put in place in the area to ensure peaceful and transparent elections. “We are expecting a huge voter turnout this time and we will ensure that the elections are held smoothly,” she said.

Referring to the participation of people in election campaigning, SP Sopore said that the local population was enthusiastic about the elections and happy to vote this time like in the last parliamentary polls.

“People are happy and it is like a celebration here in Sopore,” she said. The SP Sopore said that polling booths were adequately secured and no effort would be spared to maintain law and order.

“We have made enough security arrangements at all the polling stations and will ensure smooth polling,” she said.