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Srinagar, Oct 19 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government has assured full cooperation to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in providing necessary manpower and materials for conducting free, fair and peaceful Assembly elections in the state this year.

The Central government has, meanwhile, assured that adequate Central Police Force will be deployed to ensure safety, security and free movement of electors, candidates, leaders of political parties and polling personnel and in guarding of polling material and polling stations.

An official spokesman said here this evening that the District Election Officers had been asked to prepare comprehensive district election plan including communication plan using multi-mode resources such as landline telephones, cells and wireless sets to facilitate effective monitoring and control on the polling days.

The ECI, has said it expected all officials engaged in the conduct of polls to discharge their duties in an impartial manner without any fear and favour, he added.

The officials shall be deemed to be on deputation to the Commission and shall be subject to its control, supervision and discipline.

The officials will be under constant scrutiny of the Commission and strict action will be taken against those found voilating the rules.

There are a total of 8,109 polling stations in the state and for facilitating physically-challenged people, instructions had been issued to ensure that all polling stations are located preferably at ground floor and ramps are also provided.

Facilitation shall also be provided for locating the elector's name against a polling station or a group of polling stations through helplines and facilitation centres.

Based on the assessment of the ground situation, forces drawn from other States will be deployed during the forthcoming elections.

These security personnel will be generally used for safeguarding the polling stations and providing security to the electors and polling personnel at the polling stations on the polling day.

Besides, these forces will be used for securing the strong rooms where the EVMs are stored and at the counting centres.

He said the poll schedule for state was announced following the meeting of the Commission with the representatives of recognised National and State parties on September eight at New Delhi.

He said the Commission held parleys with State Chief Secretary and Director General of Police as well as the Union Home Secretary to assess the poll preparedness and security situation in the State on September 10.

Earlier this month, another round of meetings was held with the Advisors to the Governor on October seven, which was followed by a meeting of the Commission with the State Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police.

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