'Maximum alert' in Anantnag
Separatist leaders held

ANANTNAG, Oct 3 (UNI) — Apprehending trouble and violence, the security forces have been put on the "maximum alert" to ensure trouble-free polling in the Anantnag parliamentary constituency which goes to the polls tomorrow to decide the fate of 18 candidates, including two former Union Ministers.

The authorities have arrested more than 20 leaders of the separatist All-Party Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party for their anti-election campaign which by and large affected voter turnout during the first two phases of elections in the valley.

About 7,000 of the 29,000 Kashmiri migrant voters in the constituency have registered themselves with the commission for voting through the postal ballot.

Senior state and security officials, quoting intelligence reports, said Pakistan's ISI trained militants may try to disrupt polling in the constituency spread over 18 assembly segments of the districts of Anantnag and Pulwama in South Kashmir.

State Deputy Chief Electoral Officer B.D Sharma said all necessary measures had been taken to ensure a peaceful poll.

Altogether, 994 polling stations have been set up across the constituency for an electorate totalling 8,04, 983, which includes 3,60, 492 women. Former Union Ministers Mufti Mohammed Sayeed (PDP) and Mr Mohmmad Maqbool Dar (Janata Dal-United), State Revenue Minister Ali Mohmmad Naik (NC) and former state minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed (Congress) are among the contestants.

Mr Sharma said 625 polling stations had been declared "sensitive" or "hypersensitive" and all necessary measures for a peaceful atmosphere to enable voters to exercise franchise.

Official sources said about 200 more companies of the BSF, the CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir police would be deployed across the constituency.

These companies would be in addition to the forces, including Rashtrya Rifles and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, already deployed in the constituency for counter insurgency operations.

Security forces had been deployed in strength at important public places and government building. Patrolling had been intensified.

Mr Sharma said poll material had reached the respective polling stations. Poll officials were being given government accommodation. "All poll officials are locals," he said.

State Chief Electoral Officer S.V Bhave, accompanied by Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Kurshid Ahmad Ganai, reviewed the arrangements.

The constituency has been divided into zones and sectors in a bid to make foolproof security arrangements.

The authorities have voiced concern at the presence of a good number of heavily-armed militants, mostly foreigners, in the jungles of Deksum, Kokernag, Achabal, Ahrabal, Shopian, Wadwan, Ahalangadwal and the Pirpanchal ranges bordering Doda. Patrolling in these areas has been intensified.

Observers feel that the low turnout in Srinagar and Baramula constituencies will have its impact on polling in the constituency.