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Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
Campaigning ended on Sunday for the final phase of assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir on October 8 covering Doda district and Lolab constituency.
Security forces have taken positions in Doda to ensure peaceful polling for the six constituencies for which 56 candidates are in the fray, a police officer said.
"We have 243 hypersensitive and 291 sensitive polling booths in the district," he said.
"We have deployed nearly 500 companies of the paramilitary troops in the district. We want to ensure maximum participation of the people in the poll process. We have areas where there is militant presence, but security forces are deployed in good strength to maintain law and order," said the officer.
Militants have asked the residents of Doda to boycott the polls and called for a bandh on October 8.
"We will not pardon all those who participate in the elections. We will teach them a lesson," the Hizbul Mujahideen said on Saturday.
The ruling National Conference has fielded candidates on all the six seats. However, they are facing a tough fight from the Congress and People's Democratic Party candidates.
Polling in Lolab constituency of Kupwara district was to be held on September 16. However, polling was countermanded there following the killing of state law minister and NC candidate Mushtaq Ahmad Lone.
The NC has now fielded Qaiser Ahmed Lone, a close relative of the law minister.
"We have made adequate security arrangements in the constituency," said Kupwara district magistrate Haq Nawaz said.
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