All preparations completed, counting staff to arrive today at centres
Schools within Baramulla Municipal limits to remain close on June 4: DC Bla
Srinagar, June 02:As the counting of votes for the five LokSabha constituenciesapproaches, security has been intensified across all nine counting centresin Jammu and Kashmir. A three-tier security system has been implemented for the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) stored in strong rooms, officials reported.
Chief Election Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole, informed Rising Kashmir that proactive measures have been taken to ensure the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the vote counting scheduled for June 4.
“We have a three-layer security system as per the Election Commission’s guidelines. The outer layer is managed by the local police, while the innermost layer is secured by the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF),” Pole stated.
He further explained that in front of political representatives, an observer will randomly select five polling stations from each constituency to compare VVPAT counts with the EVM counts. “I have personally inspected the security setup three times,” he added.
Pole emphasized that all officers, including policemen, have been instructed to strictly follow the rules without any exceptions. “No one will be allowed into the counting centres without proper authorization and a gate pass. Separate entry and exit routes have been planned for counting staff, candidates, and counting agents,” he said. Mobile phones are prohibited inside the counting halls, and only those with Election Commission-approved identity cards will be permitted entry.
The CEO further said that all officers, including policemen, have been instructed to strictly follow the rules without any exceptions.
Pole said that mobile phones are not allowed inside the counting halls, and only those with election commission-approved identity cards will be permitted entry.
ECI has established 10 counting centres for LokSabha Polls 2024 in Jammu and Kashmir. Proper Security Plan and parking of vehicles has been finalized. In addition, barricading and parking management, there will be proper security passes for those entering counting stations, he added.
He said that counting staff will be arriving at all 9 counting centres today and they will be staying in official accomodations on Monday and they have to start counting early on June 04.
Counting centres include Government Degree College (Boys) Baramulla for Baramulla PC, Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) for Srinagar PC, Government Degree College (Boys),Anantnag and Government PG College Rajouri for Anantnag-Rajouri PC, Government Degree College,Kathua for Udhampur PC, premises comprising Government Polytechnic College and Government MAM college, Jammu for Jammu PC, Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar Jammu for ARO Migrant Jammu, Government Girls Higher Secondary School Udhampur for ARO Migrant Udhampur and 5 Prithviraj Road J&K House, New Delhi, for ARO Migrant Dehli.
Meanwhile, all the educational institutions located around the National Highway-1 (NH1) from Khanpora to Sangrama and those falling within the municipal limits of Baramulla will remain closed on June 4.
The decision has been taken by the District Election Officer (DEO) Baramulla, Minga Sherpa given the counting of votes scheduled on June 4, 2024, at Government Degree College Boys, Baramulla.
DEO Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, who is also the Returning Officer (RO) for the 1-Baramulla parliamentary constituency, announced that all preparations and arrangements for the vote counting are in place.
“The barricading of the counting center at Government Degree College Baramulla has already been completed. A trial run was also conducted on Saturday,” he said.
“The counting will begin with postal ballots at 7:30 am, followed by the counting of EVM votes at 8 am. The process will continue until all votes are counted,” Sherpa said.
He further said a three-tier security system will be in place, with a detailed plan outlined by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla to ensure smooth vote counting.
“District Police, Armed Police, and CRPF will be stationed inside and outside the counting halls to ensure a foolproof security system,” Sherpa added.
On Saturday, SSP BaramullaAmod Ashok Nagpure, along with other senior police officers and top CRPF officials, visited Government Degree College Baramulla to review the security arrangements.
Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the highest poll participation in the last 35 years by registering 58.46 per cent voter turnout in the General Elections 2024.
The Union Territory comprises five Parliamentary constituencies namely Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag-Rajouri, Udhampur and Jammu.
