Killings cast a shadow on Anantnag poll today

After the killings, dozens of panchayat members, especially in Tral, Awantipore and Pulwama areas, have resigned either through newspapers or have pasted posters at local mosques asking people to forgive them for having become panchayat members.

The killings have also left workers of all mainstream parties scared. “This will have a direct impact on the voter turnout in the areas where the killings took place,’’ said Khalid Ahmad a resident of Anantnag town.

J&K director-general of police Ashok Prasad said initial findings indicate that Hizb militants are responsible for the killing of panchayat members in South Kashmir. Security forces have started night dominance ahead of polls and additional troops have been sent to South Kashmir.

J&K Panchayat Conference, which represens panchayat members of South Kashmir, has attacked the government for putting at risk the lives of panchayat members. “The government has failed to secure the lives of panchayat members despite the open threats,’’ chairman of the panchayat conference Shafiq Mir said.

With an electorate of more than 12 lakh, there are 12 candidates in the fray in Anantnag, which will see a direct contest between sitting National Conference MP Mehboob Beg and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

There will be three-tier security at the 1,615 polling stations of which 80 per cent have been declared sensitive or hypersensitive.
While the National Conference will try to retain this seat with the help of the Congress, the opposition PDP will pray for heavy voter turnout, as a boycott, especially in areas where the PDP has a strong presence, will hamper its chances of winning.