Srinagar, April 20 : 100 additional companies of paramilitary forces including SSB, ITBP and CRPF on Saturday reached Anantnag and 80 more are being deployed in the south Kashmir district in next few days for the election in the south Kashmir district next week, sources said.
The election to the Anantnag parliamentary constituency consisting of four south Kashmir district of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama is being held in three phases. On Tuesday, voting is scheduled under phase-III in Anantnag district having 6 Assembly segments of Anantnag, Dooru, Kokernag, Shangus, Bijbehara and Pahalgam.
Sources told GNS that 100 companies of the paramilitary forces, earlier deployed in central and north Kashmir have been moved to Anantnag and reached there today. “80 more companies are reaching the district by tomorrow,” they said.
The authorities, they said, have also ordered posting of 14 SSPs of the other districts of the state, over 60 DSPs and over 100 Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors for the smooth conduct of elections.
A senior security official said that the companies of the paramilitary forces will be accompanied by the respective SSPs, DSPs and in some places the Inspectors in order to ensure “maximum restraint is exhibited if any law and order problem arises.”
The officers have been also directed to ensure the safety of the voters and the general public during the polls.
Meanwhile, sources said that army has been conducting searches in sensitive parts of the southern district. “All the polling stations have been put under high security,” they said.
The Parliamentary Constituency has 1397272 registered voters including 720337 males 672879 females and 35 transgender voters. These include 4021 service electors (3991 males and 30 females).
In Anantnag district the polling will be held on April 23, in Kulgam district on April 29 and in Pulwama and Shopian districts on May 6. The polling will be held from 7 AM to 4 PM. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 1842 polling stations.
The Anantnag District alone has 529256 electors including 269603 males, 257540 females, 2102 service electors (2102 male and 11 female) and 11 transgender voters. The ECI has setup 714 polling stations in the district.
Kokernag Assembly segment has the highest number of 93694 voters (48742 males and 44948 females) while Doru has the lowest 78653 electors, including 40764 males and 37889 females.
Assembly segment Bijbehara has 93289 voters (47067 males and 46222 females), Shangus 88374 voters (45360 males and 43010 females), Pahalgam 86614 (44115 males and 42498 females) and Anantnag 86530 (43555 males and 42973 females).
The highest 46222 female voters are in the assembly segment of Bijbehara. Among the assembly segments of Anantnag district, Shangus has a total of 1031 service electors which is highest in the district. (GNS)