The Central government has significantly ramped up security measures throughout the Kashmir valley in view of the upcoming Assembly Elections in 2024. Nearly 300 paramilitary companies, including units from the CRPF, BSF, SSB, and ITBP, have been deployed to ensure a peaceful and orderly election process, given the region’s history of political instability.
A senior police official noted that these forces have been strategically placed across various locations in the valley, from the bustling streets of Srinagar to the remote areas of Kupwara. Key districts such as Handwara, Ganderbal, Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Awantipora, and Kulgam are also under tight security.
The highest concentration of forces is in Srinagar, where 55 companies have been stationed. Anantnag follows with 50 companies, and Kulgam has 31 companies. Other districts, including Budgam, Pulwama, and Awantipora, have received 24 companies each, while Shopian, Kupwara, Baramulla, Handwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal have been allocated varying numbers of companies to ensure balanced security coverage.
Earlier this week, the Chief Election Commissioner of India announced the election schedule, marking the first Assembly elections in the region since a decade that saw significant unrest in 2016, the abrogation of Article 370, and the reorganization of the state in 2019.
The election will be conducted in three phases, starting on September 18, with subsequent phases on September 25 and October 1. The results are set to be announced on October 4.
