Date:17/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111755241000.htm

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Tight security for J&K polls

Shujaat Bukhari

102 candidates in fray for 10 seats
Contingency plan for snow-hit Gurez

SRINAGAR: Amid tight security, 10 Assembly segments in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir are going to the polls on Monday in the first phase of elections in the State.

According to officials, 102 candidates are in the fray for 10 constituencies — Surankote, Mendhar, Poonch-Haveli, Gurez, Bandipore, Sonawari, Nobra, Leh, Kargil and Zanskar.

Chief Electoral Officer B.R. Sharma told The Hindu that all arrangements were in place for the smooth conduct of elections.

He said a contingency plan was drawn up for Gurez which was cut off after heavy snowfall in the area. “We have shifted 80 of the 96 polling staff required for 25 polling stations of Gurez Assembly segment in 3 MI-17 helicopters and remaining 16 poll personnel will be airlifted on Monday. Enough Electronic Voting Machines have already been sent,” he said.

The CEO said 70 complaints had been received against government officials for violation of directions of the Election Commission of India vis-À-vis favouring any candidate or party.

“Enquiries are going on into all the complaints in a time-bound manner and strict action will be taken against all those government officials found favouring any candidate or party,” he said.

“All the District Electoral Officers have formed complaint cells and enquiry teams to attend to and dispose of complaints against parties and candidates.”

Bandipore sealed

Authorities have also made elaborate security arrangements. Sources said 120 additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force had been deployed. Bandipore district has virtually been sealed and no movement of civilians from outside is allowed.

The Hurriyat Conference-sponsored Co-ordination Committee has called for a march to Bandipore on Monday as part of its anti-election campaign.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chairman of Hurriyat Conference, had appealed to people to launch an anti-election campaign. However, the authorities placed him under house arrest along with other separatist leaders.

“This is definitely a big challenge but we will manage. They cannot stop people from voting,” a top police official said.