Srinagar, February 22
Pakistan-based militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, has warned the people of Kashmir of dire consequences if they took part in the Lok Sabha elections.
The threat, conveyed through posters read: “We want freedom, not elections. Anyone found participating in the poll will be dealt with severely.”
The Hizbul threat comes in the wake of efforts by the government and political parties to set rolling the campaign by organising rallies and public meetings.
While the BJP had organised a rally in the heart of Srinagar on Tuesday last, the Congress-PDP coalition held a massive public meeting in the Sopore area of Baramula district yesterday.
Highly-placed official sources confirmed having received information about the pasting of posters by the Hizbul but said the authorities had already initiated steps to counter the threat to ensure public participation in the elections.
The posters have been pasted in several villages in Pulwama and Anantnag in south Kashmir and Kupwara and Baramula districts of north Kashmir. The posters were seen pasted at Bilorgund, Tiknu, Bubbar, Sheikhyar, Rajpora, Shadimarg and Drabigam in Pulwama district, Kulgam in Anantnag, Sheikhnar and Sogam in Kupwara and Rafiabad in Baramula over the past few days, the reports reaching here said.
“It is nothing new. We were expecting such things”, the sources said.
Meanwhile, hardline separatist groups, including the breakaway faction of the APHC headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani also appealed the people to boycott the elections.
The Islamic Students League headed by detained separatist Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi had also given a poll boycott call, while erstwhile Hurriyat constituent People’s League led by Sheikh Abdul Aziz, under detention for the past three years, said it was planning its strategy to enforce poll boycott.
Leader of the Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmad Shah, considered to be a moderate, had also issued a statement for poll boycott.
— UNI
