Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Sep 23 (KNS): As the intense campaigning for the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s Assembly elections came to a close on Monday, security forces, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), played a vital role in safeguarding candidates and securing election rallies.
Tight security arrangements ensured the safety of candidates and star campaigners from various political parties as they held rallies across 26 Assembly constituencies, where voting will take place on September 25.
More than 25.78 lakh voters are expected to participate in this phase, which covers districts in both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions, including Ganderbal, Srinagar, Budgam, Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch. With 239 candidates contesting in this round, security forces worked tirelessly to ensure the campaigning was free of incidents.
An official from the security forces confirmed that the campaign concluded without any security breaches. “No untoward incidents were reported during the entire campaign. We have deployed additional personnel across all sensitive areas, and we will continue to maintain tight security on polling day,” the official said, adding that forces are also focusing on securing remote and snow-bound regions ahead of the polls.
Throughout the campaign, which featured prominent leaders from major political parties, security remained the top priority.
Candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, National Conference (NC), and other regional parties were provided with enhanced protection as they traveled across constituencies to hold rallies and meet with voters.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The deployment of forces in large numbers was also necessary to ensure the safety of star campaigners, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and others who addressed major rallies during the campaign.
Senior police officials emphasized the importance of securing the election process in the region. "We have been monitoring every aspect of the campaign, and our goal is to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and secure environment. Voters must feel confident about coming to the polling stations," said a top police officer.
He also highlighted the efforts made to secure the border areas and remote regions, where polling staff and election materials have been sent under the protection of security forces.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF were deployed at key points to prevent any potential threats from militant groups. In the urban areas of Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Budgam, security was particularly heightened, with patrolling intensified in sensitive zones.
The third and final phase of the elections will take place on October 1, covering the remaining constituencies. Security forces will continue to work in coordination with election officials to ensure smooth conduct of the voting process.
Once the second phase is complete, all eyes will shift to the final phase of polling, after which the votes will be counted on October 8. (KNS)