Srinagar/New Delhi, April 27
Several Pakistani militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir are in possession of voter identity cards, prompting authorities to re-verify all such documents before the upcoming Assembly poll in the state. The police has seized photo identity cards from Pakistani ultras killed in encounters in Kupwara district recently, a senior official said in Srinagar.

Voicing serious concern over the development, Kupwara development commissioner Kachoo Isfandyar Khan said, “We are left with no alternative but to re-verify all electoral photo I-cards issued so far.”

In New Delhi, the Election Commission said it would soon discuss the issue of possible misuse of voter identity cards in the wake of reports of some militants acquiring these documents.

Besides security scenario and preparation of electoral rolls, the EC would discuss with state election officials the issue of voter identity cards, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami said.

“We are meeting the Chief Electoral Officer of the state very soon to discuss the entire gamut of issues including electoral rolls and identity cards,” Gopalaswami said without elaborating.

One of the seized cards showed slain Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Abu Tufail, a Pakistani national, under a different name and a resident of north Kashmir. Tufail was killed in a gunbattle with the police in February this year.

“It is definitely a serious concern for security agencies,” Handwara SP Haseeb Mughal said.

“In subsequent two to three operations, we found slain foreign militans carrying genuine election cards issued by the local authorities. We have already passed directions to our units and sister agencies to be extra careful now,” the SP said.

Khan said, “May be there are many more such cases. But one thing is certain, we will re-verify all identity cards before the election.”

Assembly election in the state is due in September this year. — PTI