Srinagar: Tucked away in the remote corner of Line of Control, Makri village is gearing up for elections without fear of guns and shells
Situated beyond the Army’s anti-infiltration fence, the village houses one of the remotest polling stations in India
There are 51 such polling stations located along the Line of Control (LoC). The Election Commission is preparing for safe and successful polls at these border polling stations.
As the election approaches, the Election Commission of India has taken extensive measures to ensure that villagers in this sensitive region can exercise their fundamental right to vote with seamless access to polling stations.
Makri is one of five villages in Rajouri that lie directly along the LoC, beyond the Army’s barbed-wire fencing meant to curb infiltration from Pakistan.
Jammu and Kashmir will be holding its first state election in ten years, and the first after the abrogation of Article 370. Unlike previous elections marred by disruption and boycott calls, the situation across the state largely remains peaceful.
Residents in Makri hope that the elections will not only bring peace but also much-needed development to their border villages. “We need better roads, medical facilities, and more teachers for our children,” said one villager, highlighting the essential needs of the region.
Security has been ramped up to unprecedented levels ahead of the election, especially in border villages like Makri, due to the potential for infiltration and terror activities. With three to four times more security personnel in place compared to previous elections, the region has been marked as a highly sensitive zone. The Army and central security forces, along with local police, are conducting regular patrols to ensure that the elections proceed without disruption.
