NEWSLINKS US EDITION NEWS DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ARCHIVES
Josy Joseph in Srinagar
Lieutenant General Vinayak Gopal Patankar, general officer commanding, 15 Corps, has dismissed all allegations of security forces coercing voters to cast their ballots in the first phase of polling in Jammu & Kashmir on Monday.
"There is no question of the army coercing or forcing people," Gen Patankar told rediff.com at his office in the highly fortified 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar on Tuesday evening while discussing the security scenario and election-related developments in the Kashmir Valley. "I had no such reports of coercion from my officers."
The general, who is also security adviser to the state government and chief of the unified command headquarters in the valley, said a key reason for the low level of violence in the first phase was the army's recent successes in foiling infiltration from across the border.
The security forces, he said, had been watching the situation for a long time and had identified the high-risk areas correctly. "We made sure that by virtue of our deployment we didn't allow terrorists to disrupt the polls," he said.
"The army's task," Gen Patankar explained, "was to create a safe environment in which elections could be conducted. And that is what we have done."
The army was on high alert to foil infiltration attempts. In fact, in the six weeks from August 1 to September 16, the troops made as many as 75 'kills' in counter-infiltration alone. This, the general said, was one of the highest ratios of militants killed along the Line of Control.
He dismissed reports of security forces, especially the army, forcing people to the polling booths in parts of Kupwara and Baramulla districts. "All we told the people is that we are out here, have no fear, we will take care of any problem, you don't have to worry. That is where it ended." He said he had not received a single complaint of coercion by his men.
In the next three phases too, the army will "stick to our brief of making the environment as safe from terrorist violence as possible". Polling percentages and the like are for political parties to worry about, he remarked.
"There is a lot of fervour, people want to come out and vote," Gen Patankar said. "People will participate. As far as we are concerned, we will do our part."
He said the security forces had tried to be as transparent as possible in their conduct. The unified headquarters, coordinating body for all security forces in the valley, has been issuing press statements after every meeting. The Election Commission has also been briefed in detail about the security measures.
"As security adviser I have conveyed to all the security forces that this is our brief, this is our duty, to ensure that people feel free to come out and vote," the corps commander said.
Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
