Security tightened in Kashmir's border areas before elections

Police in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir have tightened security to thwart any militant attack ahead of general elections.

Parliamentary elections will be held in nine phases between April 7 and May 12. Already, 814 million people are registered voters, a number exceeding the population of Europe and a world record.

The results are due on May 16.

Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Rajouri-Poonch Range Ashok Kumar Atri said: "Recently, we had received specific information that a militant was also sent on trial basis on the Indian side and we had recovered AK-47 and IED from him. This shows that they will try to make infiltration attempts to foil the election process. With an aim to prevent such incidents we have very good coordination with non-civilian authorities and we are also vigilant. We are keeping an eye on the suspects and the area is under surveillance. We have become more alert and vigilant after the arrest of the militant."

The Kashmir region has witnessed numerous militant attacks, insurgency and infiltration attempts from across the border in the last two decades.

Highlighting the significance of elections in Kashmir, Atri said the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) will surely try to foil the election process.

"Elections of Jammu and Kashmir hold importance and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) will try to disturb the election process. Rajouri-Poonch is our border district and they will make attempts to thwart the elections," he said.

Militants have been frequently attacking security bases in Kashmir since the 1990s, when there was a full-blown insurgency against Indian rule in a region over which India and Pakistan fought two of their three wars.

The Himalayan region is one of the world's most militarised zones, with India deploying more than 1.3 million troops to quell the rebellion that triggered off in 1989.