Ahead of 2nd phase of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow, authorities have deployed around 400 additional companies of police and paramilitary forces to ensure free, fair and incident free elections.
As per a senior police officer, around 400 additional companies of the police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in all the poll-bound areas of the state to guard polling stations, area domination and polling staff in the 18 assembly segments.
Of the total forces, 200 companies have been deployed in the nine assembly segments of Jammu region whereas 200 companies are deployed in the nine segments of Kashmir region, the officer said.
Out of the 18 assembly seats going to polls on December 2, nine segments are from the highly militancy-infested districts of the Jammu region, including Poonch and Reasi.
The two districts of Kashmir Valley -- Kupwara and Kulgam -- that will go to polls tomorrow, also continue to be the hotbed of militancy in the state.
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief K Rajendra Kumar has expressed apprehensions that militants' outfits may attempt to disrupt the poll process in the Valley, but exuded confidence that security forces were prepared to thwart any such attempt.
"Anti-national elements would try to fulfil their nefarious designs but the police along with other security agencies are ready to foil their attempts, so that people can exercise their franchise in a peaceful atmosphere," he said.
"Smooth conduct of elections in the state has remained on top concern for the Jammu and Kashmir Police from time to time and effective measures have been taken to strengthen the security grid to ensure the democratic process in a peaceful manner," Kumar said.
In the second phase of polling, a total of 15.35 lakh voters would exercise their franchise even as a total of 175 candidates, including four sitting ministers of the coalition government, are in fray.
The nine assembly segments in Jammu region going to polls tomorrow include, Gulab Garh with 68,307 voters and 113 polling stations, Reasi with 1,08,084 voters and 173 polling stations and Gool Arnas with 61,355 voters and 117 polling stations in Reasi district.
Udhampur segment with 1,05,735 voters and 155 polling stations, Chenani with 86,847 voters and 128 polling stations and Ramnagar with 1,07,213 voters and 172 polling stations in Udhampur district, Surankote with 85,295 voters and 121 polling stations, Mendhar with 80,819 voters and 124 polling stations and Poonch Haveli with 99,735 voters and 144 polling stations of bordering Poonch district will also go to polls tomorrow.
