Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Nov 18: With first ever District Development Council (DDC) elections round the corner in J&K, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, B R Bhatnagar Wednesday said that it is not for the first that any election is taking place in J&K and that the administration has put in place all the security arrangements to foil any attempt by militants that is aimed at disrupting the poll process.
“See elections are not taking place for the first time in J&K,” Advisor Bhatnagar told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) over phone. “All the arrangements are place including security arrangements to deal with the possible attempts by militants that may be aimed at disrupting polls.
A senior security official said that all the polling stations will be provided with the proper security cover. “All the polling booths will be secured and staff will be provided adequate security cover,” he said, wishing not to be named.
While security arrangements are in place, the State Election Commission (SEC), has put in place all the arrangements for the smooth conduct of DDC polls and by elections for Panchayat polls.
“We have finalized the voting lists. As far as the remote areas that remain cut-off like Machil in Kupwara, Gurez in Bandipora, special air sorties will transport election material to these areas,” the official said.
He said that polling staff will also be air-dropped to inaccessible areas of Kashmir and Chenab Valley of Jammu region. On the security front, he said that LG Manoj Sinha has already chaired a high level security meet and all arrangements in place as far as security of polling booths and hypersensitive and sensitive areas is concerned.
Pertinently, J&K Election Commission has announced eight-phased election for DDC and –simultaneously by elections for the vacant panchayat seats from November 28—(KNO)
