JAMMU & KASHMIR: In a significant development, Jammu and Kashmir has undergone a major reshuffle within its police force just hours before the Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for the region's upcoming assembly elections. This move comes as the first assembly election in the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 approaches.

Several senior police officials, including Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) and Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), have been reassigned. Many districts will now have new police chiefs, reflecting a broader effort to prepare for the forthcoming elections.

According to Government Order No. 361-Home of 2024, dated August 15, 2024, there has been a significant reshuffle in the Jammu and Kashmir police force, effective immediately. Here are the key changes:

• Gurinderpal Singh has been moved from his role as Assistant Inspector General (P&T) at Police Headquarters to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Baramulla.
• Nagpure Amod Ashok is now the SSP of Udhampur, having been transferred from SSP Baramulla.
• Armitpal Singh has been reassigned from Commanding Officer of IR-2 to SSP (Tech) at the CID Headquarters.
• Mumtaz Ahmed has been transferred from Commanding Officer of 1 Border Battalion, Jammu, to SSP Poonch, taking over from Yougal Kumar Manhas.
• Mohd Aslam is the new SSP of Doda, replacing Javid Iqbal, who will be waiting for further postings at Police Headquarters.
• Sandeep Gupta has been moved from SSP Ganderbal to Assistant Inspector General (Tech) at Police Headquarters, with Wasim Qadri now serving as SSP Ganderbal.
• Anuj Kumar has been transferred from SSP Ramban to Commanding Officer of IR-11.
• Tanushree has been reassigned from SSP Shopian to Superintendent of Police (SP) SIA Kashmir, replacing Gaurav Sikarwar, who will now be the SSP of Reasi.
• Anayat Ali Choudhary has been moved from SSP Kathua to SSP Shopian.
• Mohita Sharma has been transferred from SSP Reasi to Assistant Inspector General (Prov) at Police Headquarters.
• Deepika has been moved from SP SIA Jammu to SSP Kathua.
• Gaurav Sikarwar is now the SSP of Reasi, having been transferred from SP SIA Kashmir.
• Kulbir Singh has been reassigned from Commanding Officer of IR-11 to SSP Ramban.
• Joginder Singh is now the SSP of Jammu, having been transferred from SSP Udhampur.
• Ashok Kumar Sharma has been posted as Commanding Officer of 1 Border Battalion, Jammu, replacing Mumtaz Ahmed.

The Election Commission is expected to reveal the polling schedule for Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, marking a pivotal moment for the region. This announcement follows the Supreme Court's directive to the central government to complete the election process by September 30, 2024.

These elections will be the first in Jammu and Kashmir in a decade, with the last assembly elections held in 2014. The previous coalition government, led by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), fell apart in June 2018 when the BJP withdrew its support from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission is scheduled to unveil the election timetable for various states today at 3 pm. While the names of these states have yet to be disclosed, recent visits by the Election Commission to Jammu and Kashmir have focused on assessing election readiness. On August 9, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar affirmed the Commission's commitment to holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible, ensuring that both internal and external challenges do not hinder the process.

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