IGP For Strengthening ‘General Security Grid’ For Peaceful Polls

Srinagar, Nov 19 (GNS): Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Thursday asked officers to strengthen general security grid to ensure upcoming elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere.

He and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang Kondbarao Pole on visited North Kashmir’s Bandipora and Kupwara districts to review preparedness for forth coming elections.

The meeting at District headquarters Bandipora and Kupwara was attended by respective senior Civil and Police officers.

“The meeting focused on security and other related arrangements pertaining to the forth coming elections,” a police spokesman said in a statement issued to GNS.

The IGP Kashmir held a detailed security review meeting with the officers of police and CAPF.

He also took extensive review of the security arrangements put in place for ensuring peaceful and smooth forthcoming elections.

IGP Kashmir at both district headquarters was briefed by the concerned Police and CAPF officers about various security measures adopted by them for ensuring peaceful elections. They also presented an overview of the steps initiated by them in the districts to counter the challenges faced at the ground level.

“IGP Kashmir stressed on the officers to ensure synergy, better coordination and communication among all the forces and civil administration working at the ground level,” the spokesman said.

The top police officer of Kashmir also urged upon the officers to strengthen the general security grid of the area to ensure upcoming elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere. “Both the district SSsP were instructed to keep vigil on anti-national elements besides generating specific intelligences and conducting anti-militancy operations along with security forces.”

State Election Commission has already announced an eight-phase poll to 20 District Development Councils (DDCs) and vacant Panchayat and municipal seats, in the first major electoral exercise since the effective nullification of Article 370 in August last year. 

The government had in October amended the J&K Panchayati Raj Act to provide for setting up of District Development Councils in each district which will have directly elected members, marking the implementation of the entire 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the J&K.

While voters in first phase would be cast ballot on November 28, the last phase of polling would take place on December 19 and the counting of votes would take place on December 22. (GNS)