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With just three days left for the fourth and final phase of Assembly polls in J-K, militancy-infested Doda district faces a ticklish situati...

With just three days left for the fourth and final phase of Assembly polls in J-K, militancy-infested Doda district faces a ticklish situation.

Some 175 additional companies of paramilitary forces have to move into position for smooth conduct of polls, but are unable to do so. Reason: Petrol and diesel have become scarce in the district after contracts between private tankers and oil companies expired on September 30.

Senior officials say that they have already informed higher-ups both in Jammu and Srinagar about the ground situation. 8216;8216;We have not received supplies for the last five days as the tanker operators are on strike,8217;8217; they said.

While the administration has already withdrawn the State Task Force STF from counter-insurgency operations under directions of the Election Commission, troop reinforcements have not been able to reach their destination and launch last-minute mopping operations.

Only yesterday, People8217;s Democratic Party Vice-President Mehbooba Mufti escaped an attempt on her life when an IED went off near her rally at Goha in Marmat area. Sources said that the administration has received intercepts about militants planning to strike big on election eve.

Only four days ago, militants had planted IEDs on the Doda-Gundna road on which Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah8217;s cavalcade was scheduled to pass.

Doda SSP Dr Saji Mohan admitted that intercepts had been received about militants trying to infiltrate into the district from the adjoining Valley as well.

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8216;8216;However, we have launched sanitisation operations in areas adjoining the Valley,8217;8217; he said.

Mohan said that petroleum products were expected to reach the district later in the day as senior officials in Jammu had been able to persuade tanker operators to arrange supplies to Doda in view of the polls. Petrol pump dealers, however, denied this.

At the half a dozen petrol pumps in the district 8212; three on the National Highway and NH 1B, dealers say they have already exhausted stocks. Some of them a little, but it8217;s not enough to meet requirements of troops who have to fan out throughout the district.

Sources said, however, this is not the sole problem facing the district administration. There is a shortage of even sleeping bags and bullet-proof jackets for polling staff.