Forces ready to ensure peaceful polls in Kashmir: Chidambaram

Jammu/New Delhi, Mar 19 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has said security forces are ready to ensure peaceful polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

"When there's turmoil in the neighbouring state (Pakistan), it's not clear who's in control, it's not clear whether any elements will be encouraged to cross the border or to cross the LoC. There's no specific threat, but prudence requires that we remain on high alert, especially when your neighbour across the border is going through a difficult period," Chidambaram said after reviewing the security scenario in Kashmir with state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

He also chaired a high-level meeting of the Unified Command in Jammu to review security plans, ahead of the five-phased parliamentary elections in the country between April 16 and May 13.

"We have to ensure a peaceful elections, during which people would be free to stand either as candidate or people would be free to come out and exercise their choice to vote," said Abdullah.

Abdullah was elected Chief Minister last year after achieving victory is seven-phased state assembly polls that saw a voter turnout of over 61 per cent.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has said that adequate forces have been deployed in the State as over 40 per cent of the rebels operating in the region to seek to infiltrate into Kashmir.

"The fact that the passes are closed, the infiltration is at a low ebb. But that notwithstanding we are quite ready with our counter-infiltration posture. A three-tier posture is in place and our attempt would be to ensure that no infiltration takes place. We have adequate forces to ensure that the environment remains peaceful for people of J-K to exercise their franchise without any hindrance and in a stable environment," General Kapoor said on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi. (ANI)