Budgam (J-K), Oct 23: Jammu and Kashmir’s National Conference (NC) kick-started its election campaign ahead of the seven-phase polls from November 17 to December 24.

Party chief Omar Abdullah questioned the credibility of his main rivals, the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which shared power to face voters again.

"We are essentially fighting this election as an opposition party. The last parties in the government were the Congress and the PDP. Therefore, they''ll have to be made to explain an account of their track record of the last six years," Abdullah told a rally in Budgam.

Srinagar, Oct 22 : Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Kuldeep Khuda has said that extra security would be deployed for the seven-phase polls in the state beginning November 17.

"We are expected to get the required forces in time. They will be deployed as per the requirement. Different strength of forces will be required in different phases," said Kuldeep Khuda, Director General of Police.

Separatist leaders have threatened to boycott any state election and plan to hold protests during the elections.

Khuda said that strict actions would be taken against anybody who tried to disrupt the elections. "Anybody who violated law of land, action will be followed," he added.

The Election Commission today announced the first-time, seven-phase assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir.

Srinagar, Oct 19 : A high-level official team from Pakistan will visit Baglihar dam tomorrow for an on-the-spot assessment of the water level in Chenab river.

The team will also inspect water storage in the Baglihar dam, besides the water flow in the river.

Pakistan has blamed India for blocking River Chenab''s flow in order to fill the Baglihar dam on the occasion of its inauguration.

Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah, who arrived here on Saturday, is leading the delegation.

During their two-day visit, Shah is also scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart G Ranganathan on the issue of Chenab river water sharing and other related subjects.

The Election Commission is expected to soon announce the Assembly poll schedule in the coming few days.

The commission, on Friday, deliberated with the Chief Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh on the issue of assembling 4,000-5,000 Urdu-speaking government employees for poll duty.

According to the sources, the states agreed to help out the EC and have asked for time until Friday to revert with a detailed account of the staff they can allocate for poll duties in the Valley.

Srinagar, Oct 18 : Three militants were killed in a fierce gun battle as army troops foiled the sixth infiltration bid in 10 days along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

A group of three to four militants crossed the LoC in a forward area of Keri sub-sector of Rajouri district on Saturday afternoon, a senior army official said adding, as they reached between the LoC and border fencing, alert troops laid a cordon in the area and launched an operation to track them down.

A gun battle followed in which three militants were killed, he said.