Srinagar, October 6: A review meeting was held at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar today to discuss the security arrangements in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the upcoming Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat Polls. Governor Satya Pal Malik reviewed and discussed the security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the polls. Top army and police officials attended the meeting including Director General of Police (DGP), J&K Dilbagh Singh and GOC Northern Command, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh.

Ravideep Singh Sahi, Inspector General (IG) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is confident of the security arrangements during the polls. While speaking to news agency ANI, Sahi said, “We have made elaborate arrangement for security during urban body elections. Whatever force was required for urban body election have come, they are being deployed. They have been adequately familiarised with the area.”He further added that environment in the valley was under control. The IG, CRPF stated, “Our endeavour would be to create a sense of security so that people should come out and vote. I'm very hopeful that the people will come out&vote. It has the potential of assuring an era of development.”

The panchayat polls in the state will be held in nine phases, beginning from November 17 to December 11. Voting would be conducted through ballot papers only. In the panchayat polls, a total of 4,130 sarpanch, 29,719 panch and 1,145 ward commissioners will be elected. The last panchayat elections in the state were held in 2011. Although the fresh elections were due in 2016, the then state government deferred them due to the unrest in the Valley because of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

Meanwhile, The municipal elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in four phases this month. The Urban Local Bodies polls will be conducted on October 8, October 10, October 13 and October 16. The counting of votes will take place on October 20 after all the phases are over. The voting in the state will be held from 7 AM to 2 PM.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 06, 2018 07:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).