Srinagar: Even as smooth campaigning and voting for by-polls to two parliamentary seats in Kashmir valley remains a concern, the state government’s request to the centre for additional companies of CRPF has got a nod.
The Centre Government is sending 54 additional companies of Central Reserve Police Force to enhance security in Anantnag and Srinagar parliamentary constituencies slated to go for by-polls in April.
“54 additional companies of CRPF will be sent to the Valley after two days for deployment of pre-election preparations in Anantnag and Srinagar parliamentary constituencies,” Director General of Police S.P Vaid told KNS.
Vaid said that the police has deployed 25 companies of Armed police in the two constituencies for smooth campaigning and elections.
As per Chief Electoral Officer of the state, Shantmanu, 31 assembly segments comprising 26, 74000 including Kashmiri migrant voters are going to cast their votes during the by-polls.
Of the 3,194 polling stations to be set up in these two constituencies will be set up for voting, majority of them have been declared as “sensitive or hypersensitive”.
Official sources said that when the notification for by-polls was issued for by-polls the state government had requested the Central Home ministry for additional security forces for poll-bound constituencies.
The DGP said that security forces will ensure smooth elections in these segments.
Of these assembly segments, south Kashmir’s Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and some areas in Anantnag present a challenge to the security forces as well as politicians.
These assembly segments witnessed huge and unrelenting protests during the 2016 uprising. Pulwama, Tral, Wachi in Shopian and Kulgam’s Homshalibugh assembly segments have been witnessing protests during gunfights between militants and government forces.
Major political parties contesting the elections have also said that campaigning and voting is challenging due to militancy and the fragile situation prevailing in the valley, especially in south Kashmir. (KNS)