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Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
Following allegations of their partisan role in the ongoing state assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission on Saturday ordered confinement of J&K police's elite anti-terrorism units -- the Special Operations Group and the Special Task Force -- to their barracks.
Almost all mainstream political parties have been alleging that that the ruling National Conference was using the SOG and the STF to intimidate opposition candidates.
Talking to newsmen in Srinagar, Chief Electoral Officer Pramod Jain said: "Ever since the start of the election process in the state, several political parties had been voicing their apprehensions about the role of the SOG and the STF in the conduct of elections."
The decision to send the special forces back to the barracks was taken after Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh held detailed discussions with top state officials and leaders of several political parties over the last two days.
The EC has issued guidelines to the state government on "the procedure to be followed in case of any emergency requiring SOG and STF assistance till the restrictions last in south Kashmir."
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