Ahead of fifth phase of polling, 437 polling stations in Jammu declared sensitive

Around 437 polling stations in the Jammu district were declared today as "sensitive" and "hyper-sensitive", ahead of the fifth phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

As many as 354 polling stations are sensitive while 83 are hyper-sensitive in the Jammu district, District Electoral Officer Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu said today.

There are a total of 1,224 polling stations in the district, he said.

As many as 10,10,959 electorate including 5,23,945 males and 4,87,012 females are expected to exercise their franchise in the fifth and final phase of the Assembly elections on December 20. 

Eleven Assembly constituencies of Jammu along with 9 others will go to polls in 11 segments later this month, the election official said, adding that 117 candidates are in the fray.

Jammu, a border district had faced the brunt of cross-border shelling and firing in August and October this year, that left 15 people killed and over 100 injured.

The district with 7 out of the 11 Assembly segments along the border line with Pakistan, has the most sensitive polling stations, Sahu said.

Three measures including deployment of micro observers, videography of poll process and web casting of polling booths have been initiated to keep a tab on the polling, he said.

More than 400 polling stations shall be covered by the three measures to keep a check on unscrupulous elements, the official informed.