3-tier security for J&K counting at 9 centres

JAMMU: Under thick security blanket, the counting of votes for the election to Lok Sabha will be undertaken at nine counting centers established by State election department across six parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir on May 23.

Another counting centre has been established for migrant votes in New Delhi.

A total of four counting centers—two each for Jammu and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies have been established for two Jammu seats, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Anil Salgotra told The News Now.
“Single counting centers have been established in three Lok Sabha constituencies of Kashmir Valley including Baramulla, Aanatnag and Srinagar.

“Two counting centers have been set up in Ladakh parliamentary constituency, one in Leh and other in Kargil,” he said.

“Out of the four counting centers in Jammu and Udhampur Lok Sabha seats one each is for migrant voters. Besides, one counting center also established for migrant voters in New Delhi,” he said.

In these 10 centre, there are 90 counting halls, with 896 counting halls while 55 observers have been deployed by the ECI for counting.

“The polled Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have reached the respective counting centers. A total 11316 EVMs were used in the elections. The polled EVMs have been placed under a three tier security to ensure protection and transparency in the counting of votes” a security official said.

“The machines have been kept under three tier security in strong security room under the vigil of CCTV cameras as per the guidelines of Election Commissioner of India (ECI)”, sources said adding the innermost perimeter has been guarded by Central Armed Police Force.

The second security ring comprises of state armed police and the third of state executive force, while the strong room would be kept under continuous CCTV coverage.

The Lok Sabha elections conducted in five phases in Jammu and Kashmir. The polling process was begun on April 11 and ended on May 6th.

Out of 78,42,979 total registered voters across the state, 34,95,923, people cast votes, which make overall voter turnout of 44.51 per cent, which was five per cent down from the 49.52 per cent recorded in the 2014 election.

“We have taken strict security measures to thwart any untoward incident during counting of votes
CCTVs are installed to monitor the premises round the clock. The centres are manned by central paramilitary forces and local police," a security official said.

He added that security officers were directed not to allow mobile phones or other electronic gadgets as they are prohibited in the counting centres and no person without valid ID proof be allowed to enter the premises of the counting centers.