Strict vigil in terror-infested districts of Jammu region on counting day

Security forces are maintaining a strict vigil in terror-infested districts of Jammu division ahead of counting for the Assembly polls on Tuesday.

Review meetings and planning for deployment of the paramilitary forces, J&K Police and Army have already been finalised. The districts which are sensitive include Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch.

In preparation for the safe conduct of counting process, Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abdul Qayoom has implemented comprehensive security measures across the district.

In light of the evolving security challenges, the Kishtwar SSP conducted a detailed briefing session attended by officers from the police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including personnel from the district police, Armed police, CRPF and CISF. The session emphasised heightened vigilance and coordination among security agencies to address any potential challenges on counting day.

“During the briefing, strategic directives were issued to bolster preparedness and ensure seamless inter-agency cooperation. The security framework has been meticulously crafted to tackle the unique challenges associated with the counting process, thereby ensuring a safe and transparent outcome,” an official informed.

He said that to reinforce community engagement and foster public confidence, Kishtwar police, in collaboration with the Armed police, CRPF and CISF, organised a citywide flagmarch led by the SSP. The flagmarch saw active participation from senior officers of CRPF 52 BN, Additional SP Kishtwar, SDPOs, and officers from the District Police, IRP, CRPF and CISF.

The march covered key routes and intersections, including Sarkoot, Main Market, Hidyal Chowk, Kichloo Mohalla, Jamia Masjid Road, and Shaheedi Chowk. This initiative aimed to disseminate vital security information, promote a sense of collective responsibility among citizens, and secure public cooperation for a smooth and safe counting day.

The SSP expressed that elaborate security arrangements and cooperation of the public is pivotal in maintaining peace and order.

Meanwhile, General Observer Tikam Chand Bohra along with DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range, Tejinder Singh, Rajouri District Election Officer (DEO) Abhishek Sharma and Rajouri SSP Randeep Kumar conducted a thorough inspection of the counting centre established at Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS), Rajouri.

The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the preparedness of the facility to ensure a seamless and transparent counting process for all five Assembly constituencies in the district.

During the inspection, the General Observer and the officials reviewed the security arrangements at the counting centre, with a focus on entry and exit points. It was emphasised that these must strictly adhere to the guidelines set by the Election Commission (EC).

The team also inspected the layout of the counting halls, ensuring that the security and logistical arrangements are in place to facilitate an error-free counting process.

The DEO provided a detailed briefing on the preparations. He highlighted the establishment of dedicated counting halls for each constituency and the robust arrangements made to ensure transparency and efficiency, such as 24x7 CCTV surveillance, an uninterrupted power supply and sufficient deployment of personnel to oversee the counting process.

The DIG and SSP assured that stringent security measures would be enforced throughout the counting process. A comprehensive security plan has been devised to ensure the safety of the premises, with additional forces to be deployed for the smooth conduct of the event.