Support network of militants choked to ensure peaceful Panchayat elections: Kumar

13/12/2018

JAMMU, Dec 12: Jammu and Kashmir administration under Governor Satyapal Malik managed to conduct the nine phased Panchayat elections without any violent incidents or poll related killing, even though the turn out in the Valley remained low.
The overall turnout in the nine phases in the state was 74 per cent with Jammu recording 83.5 percent while in Kashmir which includes Ladakh the poll percentage was 44.4 per cent.
In the final phase of the Panchayat elections on Tuesday, as per the government officials, Kashmir Valley witnessed 38.8 percent voting, with Pulwama in southern Kashmir recording lowest turnout of 1.4 percent and Kupwara in northern Kashmir witnessing highest percentage of 53.6 percent.
K Vijay Kumar, adviser to J&K Governor, said that conducting election was a challenge and armed forces choked the support system of militants to ensure there was no major incident. He stated that the administration on Governor’s directions would maintain the security and development pitch in coming months as well.
As per the official records out of 237 militants killed this year till now, 163 were killed since June, when Governor rule was imposed after BJP pulled out from the coalition government with PDP in the state. The armed forces also detained scores of youngsters, suspected to be the over ground workers of militants in past few months.
“We put pressure on people who were supporting them (militants) on the ground and creating an atmosphere. This over ground network was giving them (militants) a comfort zone and we made sure to reduce this comfort zone,” Kumar said.
The militant organization led by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had issued threat against participation in the elections and Hurriyat leadership had called for complete boycott of the elections. The two major regional parties National Conference and People’s Democratic Party also decided to stay away from Urban Local Bodies Elections concluded in November and Panchayat elections. Many candidates in Valley were declared as winners uncontested while as some of the seats remained vacant as well.
According to Kumar, he along with the J&K chief secretary BVR Subrahmanyam personally visited volatile areas like Kakapura, Redwani and some areas in Shopian in southern Kashmir and Hajin and Bomai in northern Kashmir to ensure extra security arrangements in these areas. “MHA was liberal in giving us support and extra reinforcement. This was a major task undertaken and a lot of risk was anticipated,” he said.
Panchayat elections were conducted in nine phases in Valley and eight phases in Jammu region. Kumar said that the synergy between Army, Police and CRPF was exemplary to ensure that everything would be conducted smoothly.
“We are proud and happy but not complacent. We are aware that a small mischief from the other side can create a situation,” Kumar said.

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