‘300 more companies of forces to be deployed in South Kashmir’

Acknowledging that all the three upcoming phases of polling in the Anantnag parliamentary constituency are “full of challenges”, top security officials Sunday said that 300 additional companies of security forces will be deployed in the southern segment spread over four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian.

A senior police official said that after thorough deliberations, more than 300 locations were been identified in the Anantnag district alone, which is going to polls on Tuesday, where “comprehensive and elaborate security” measures will remain in place.

   

“For southern Kashmir districts, there are more challengeson the security front compared to the northern or central districts of theValley. We will ensure that everything goes well,” the official said, insistingnot to be named.

He said the security forces—Police and the Central ReservePolice Force—will have a primary role in providing foolproof security coverduring the polls, while the Army will also remain “at the beck and call in casethe situation takes an ugly turn at any place”.

“The polling stations at all 300 identified locations willhave a double-layer protection while induction and de-induction plans ofsecurity forces have been finalised,” the official said.

Inspector general of CRPF (operations) Zulfikar Hassan saidthat southern Kashmir constituency “poses multiple challenges” but securityforces are “ready to deal with them”. “We are giving final shape to thesecurity plan and hope all goes well,” he said. “Quick Reaction Teams (of CRPF)are already on alert mode while as area domination and night patrolling inareas going to polls has been intensified.”

The CRPF has also started patrolling through its mobilevehicle check-posts while as nakas have been established at various entry andexit points, the IG CRPF said.

A source in the CRPF said that at least 300 additionalcompanies of forces will be deployed in southern districts of Pulwama,Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian from April 23 onwards. “Each company has 100 oddmen, so 30,000 additional men will be deployed for polls in South Kashmir,” hesaid.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

four × 3 =