Following a similar order issued by Reasi Administration, the District Election Officer (DEO) Bandipora has directed all the gun license holders to deposit their firearms at the nearest police stations to ensure that no intimidation takes place during the upcoming assembly elections.
It is praiseworthy that after the record breaking polling percentage witnessed in the recently held Lok Sabha polls, the people sitting at helm have been taking proactive steps to further improve the scenario with regard to polling percentage in Assembly polls and the aforesaid will go a long way in ensuring a free atmosphere for all, which is the essence of elections in India in general and in J&K in particular.
It is needful that the administrations of all the poll bound districts should also come up with similar orders as and when the law stipulates the same because any non-compliance to election guidelines and prove disastrous thus making it necessary to make public the rules and guidelines and ensure the implementation of the same in letter and spirit.
The submission of arms in the nearest police station is a requirement set under the Model Code of Conduct and therefore should be ensured as mandated to keep the polls incident-free and safe for all the stakeholders. It is anybody's guess that conducting polls in J&K is a herculean task and therefore all aspects should be gauged and taken care of minutely to complete the process of installing the popular government without any loss life or property and depositing arms in police stations is a significant step in this regard because these could be misused during polls to bully or intimidate the electorate, which should not be the case.
There is no doubt in the fact that the election body is under immense pressure during the time of election especially when the election bound region is J&K, therefore taking all mandatory precautions are vital for holding free and fair elections and ensuring safety of all. The other district administrations should also take the cue from the aforesaid districts to issue similar orders for the public to submit their weapons in the police stations and ensure level playing field to all those in fray in the upcoming political ‘battle.'
