Only local staff to be deployed for poll duty in Kupwara

Srinagar, Nov 20 (UNI) The authorities in the frontier district of Kupwara, once a hub of militants, have decided to deploy only local state government employees for poll duty in five assembly segments, going to polls for the third phase on November 30.

Official sources said the decision was taken after successful conduct of first phase of polling in 10 assembly segments, spread over Bandipora, Leh, Kargil and Poonch districts on November 17 where all the polling staff was from different state government departments.

The sources said about 2600 employees drawn from various state government departments, have imparted training in operating Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), being deployed on 448 polling booths in the constituencies.

The government had announced that each employee would be paid Rs 10,000 for doing poll duty for a single day. However, for subsequent duty the employee would get Rs 5,000 per day.

In case of death of an employee during poll duty, the next of kin would be paid Rs 10 lakh while for permanent disability Rs 5 lakhs and partial disability Rs 1 lakh.

About 400 Urdu knowing people, mostly Muslims, from different states were also brought here for the poll duty.

UNI BAS ASM SW HS1330