On a tense polling day in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district during the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti staged a protest outside the Bijbehara police station. She alleged that her party workers and polling agents were being detained without cause, leading to a confrontation with the police, who responded with a mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd. Here are the key points of the incident:
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- Protest Location: Mehbooba Mufti protested outside Bijbehara police station on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
- Allegations: She claimed that PDP workers and polling agents were being unfairly detained to hinder their participation in the elections.
- Communication Disruption: Mehbooba asserted that outgoing calls on her mobile were suspended on polling day without explanation.
- Police Statement: The police stated that the detained individuals were overground workers (OGWs) taken into preventive custody to ensure smooth and peaceful polling.
- Historical Reference: Mehbooba compared the situation to the alleged rigging in the 1987 elections, which is believed to have contributed to the rise of militancy in Kashmir.
- Public Reaction: A protester named Yasmeen expressed concern over her husband’s detention, claiming he was not involved in any illegal activity and was unfairly prevented from voting.
- Media Access: Media personnel covering the protest reported being injured by lathis and were denied access to the polling booth, being stopped 100 meters away.
- Protest Development: Police and civil officers attempted to persuade Mehbooba to end the protest, which lasted for over an hour.
- Additional Forces: Reinforcements were called in to manage the growing crowd and maintain control over the situation.
- Election Commission Appeal: Mehbooba wrote to the Election Commission, seeking intervention regarding the detention of PDP workers and polling agents. The PDP also flagged the issue on social media.
Mehbooba’s protest reflects heightened tensions and allegations of electoral misconduct, echoing historical grievances and challenging the current administration’s actions on a critical voting day.
