Training of polling staff conducted in Udhampur; administration tightens security measures

JAMMU: Amidst the preparations of the forthcoming assembly polls, the Election Commission conducted the training of the polling staff in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir while the administration tightened the security measures in the region.

The training was conducted on Monday at the Government Degree College in Udhampur district.

The Senior Superintendent of Police of Udhampur, Amod Ashok Nagpure said that the administration has tightened up the security measures to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in order to conduct the democratic process smoothly in the district.

“Four constituencies of Udhampur district (Udhampur East, Udhampur West, Chenani and Ramnagar) will be going to Poll on 1st October 2024 in third Phase of Assembly Election in Jammu and Kashmir. In this regard, tight security measures are put in place, and our priority is to conduct free, fair and transparent elections and we want each and every voter to participate enthusiastically in the elections. Along with it, we are trying to create a fear-free and peaceful atmosphere so that this democratic process can be conducted easily by political parties and voters. In this regard, we have demanded for more CRPF personnel and personnel from J&K armed forces will also be deployed, additionally, the district administration will also be deployed, ” SSP Nagpure said.

The SSP said that the security is divided into the two categories of pre-poll and during poll, Nagpure said that the administration has taken several measures to ensure conduct of peaceful elections in the district.

“We have divided the security into two categories of pre-poll and poll. In the pre-poll category, we will ensure the security of campaigning and candidates along with exercises of area sanitization and area domination. In the poll category, we will take care of the polling stations and the ways through which there will be movement. Our teams of Flying Squad and Static Surveillance will be deployed on every corners. Additionally, we are taking strict actions against the persons with criminal records,” said Nagpure.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.

Jammu and Kashmir has 90 assembly constituencies, with 7 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 9 for Scheduled Tribes (STs).

As per the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors.

In the previous Assembly elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12. These upcoming elections will be the first in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)