80% Anantnag polling booths vulnerable
ANANATNAG: The spate of violent attacks and killings in parts of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district has triggered a major overhaul of security plan for the third phase of lok sabha elections to be held here on Thursday. “The need for aerial security support is being considered. We may use choppers to provide the overhead guard for this crucial exercise,” said a top security official who is privy to the contingency plan that was afted after the recent attacks in Tral, Awantipora and Pampore. “We are in touch with the Union Defense Ministry but no decision has been taken so far,” the official informed.
Meanwhile, last day of the campaign in this constituency remained largely muted and none of the contestant ventured out to hold a public rally even as the weather had improved for past three days. Political activities came to a stand still with the killing of Sarpanch, his son and village headman in Tral town on Monday evening.
Earlier a Sarpanch had been shot dead in Awantipora and the gunmen had killed two police guards, deployed for personal security of a newly inducted National Conference leader. These incidents spread fear across the villages and political rank and file.
Omar Abdullah, however, managed to hold a rally at Noorabad under unprecedented security cover. The venue was strictly fortified by Police and SSG guards.
Officials said more than 83 percent of over 1600 polling stations in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency have been designated as hypersensitive or sensitive by the election authorities as they are apprehensive of violence during polling in these areas.
Of the 1615 polling stations in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, 690 polling stations have been declared hypersensitive as there is apprehension of violence in these polling stations areas during the polling while 659 polling stations have been designated as sensitive.
Quoting sources, the local newsgathering agency CNS Tuesday reported that the police feared more attacks against the panchayat members. “Additional number of security forces are being deployed across Pulwama, Anantnag, Tral, Awantipora.
Quoting an unnamed police official the agency report said that after the recent killings police and other agencies have decided to intensify night patrolling that would restrict the movement of armed men.
The security personnel patrolling the highway and other areas have been asked to be extra vigilant and stay alert while on duty, he said.
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