20,000 paramilitary personnel to be sent to Jammu and Kashmir for poll duty

NEW DELHI: An additional 20,000 paramilitary personnel will be dispatched to Jammu and Kashmir for deployment during the forthcoming bypolls in Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats.

"We are planning to send 200 companies of paramilitary forces to Jammu and Kashmir for election duties. These forces are in addition to those already deployed for law and order duties," a Home Ministry official said.

A company of paramilitary force comprises of around 100 personnel.

Bypolls to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats will be held on April 9 and 12 respectively.

Kashmir continuous to be on edge following several violent incidents in recent past. Yesterday, two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed when they tried to ambush a police party that included three officers of the rank of superintendent of police in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

The top police officers of the district were returning after a meeting with the chief election officer in connection with the forthcoming bypolls to two Lok Sabha seats of Anantnag and Srinagar.