Uphold principles of democracy: ADGP L&O

Srinagar, Mar 28:  As the electoral landscape in Jammu and Kashmir gears up for the upcoming elections, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Law and Order, Vijay Kumar, who is also the State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) for parliamentary polls 2024, presided over a crucial high-level meeting at the Police Control Room (PCR) in Srinagar on Thursday.

The objective was to assess and enhance preparedness for the electoral process, focusing on various aspects crucial for ensuring the smooth conduct of elections in the region.

The meeting, held virtually with the participation of ADGP Jammu along with the IG CRPF Jammu and other senior officers of BSF, CRPF, and SSB was also attended by IG CRPF SOS Ajay Yadav, IG BSF Ashok Yadav, IG CRPF KOS G Verma, IGP Kashmir Zone V K Birdi, DIG CKR Srinagar, DIG SKR Anantnag, DIG SSB Kashmir, DIG CRPF North Srinagar, SSP PCR Kashmir, Staff Officer to IGP Kashmir, and other officers.

Key discussions during the meeting revolved around bolstering security arrangements, particularly emphasising on-site security measures and the smooth conduct of polls.

Plans were discussed for preparing safe routes for the movement of electoral personnel and facilitating the security personnel deployed for election duties, ensuring their safety and efficiency throughout the electoral process.

The meeting also highlighted the paramount importance of securing the strong room where the ballots would be stored, with a focus on robust measures to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. Special measures for critical polling locations were identified, and strategies were devised to ensure heightened security measures at these key sites to deal with any potential threats and maintain the sanctity of the electoral process.

The IGP Kashmir briefed the chair about the existing security plans, following which ADGP L&O underscored the need to revisit and reinforce the security arrangements.

Special attention was given to the deployment of manpower in a calculated manner, ensuring strategic positioning to effectively monitor and respond to any potential threats or vulnerabilities.

ADGP L&O emphasised the commitment of law enforcement agencies to uphold the principles of democracy by ensuring a secure and fair electoral environment for all stakeholders involved.

The meeting concluded with a directive to continuously monitor and assess the evolving security situation with a focus on preemptive measures to mitigate any risks that might arise during the electoral process.