The District Magistrate of Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, has instructed police authorities to facilitate the depositing of weapons ahead of the Assembly elections set to begin in the third week of September. According to a communication from the District Magistrate’s Office dated August 20, this measure aims to maintain law and order and ensure a peaceful, free, and fair environment for the upcoming Legislative Assembly Elections 2024. The order, signed by Additional District Magistrate Kul Bhushan Khajuria, requires all valid licensed weapon holders to deposit their weapons at the nearest police station, where they will be stored in Malkhanas with proper receipts. However, security personnel working in banks, ATMs, and railway companies within the district are exempt from this requirement.
The Election Commission issued the notification for the first phase of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officially commencing the nomination process. In this phase, 24 Assembly seats will go to the polls on September 18. The deadline for filing nominations is August 27, with scrutiny scheduled for August 28 and the last date for withdrawal of candidacies set for August 30.
The constituencies that will vote in the first phase include Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal.
A total of 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir will participate in the elections, the first since 2014. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 4.