Election Commission Defers Anantnag Bypoll to 25 May

PDP has urged the Election Commission to postpone the Anantnagar bypolls.

• Election Commision defers Anantnag election to 25 May
  
• Two schools in Shopian, Pulwama districts set on fire ahead of Anantnag bypolls slated for 12 April
  
• PDP has requested the EC to postpone the elections in the Anantnag
  
• Polling for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Sunday turned violent with the killings of 8 protesters
  

Anantnag Bypoll Deferred to 25 May

After the violence broke out in Kashmir during the bypoll in Srinagar on Sunday, the election commission on Monday deferred the Anantnag election to 25 May.

Section 144 Imposed in Budgam, Ganderbal

Prohibitory orders were imposed in twin districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir where eight persons were killed during polling for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Restriction on the assembly of four or more persons under Section 144 of CrPc has been imposed in Budgam and Ganderbal districts to maintain law and order

Police Official

He said that while there were no curbs imposed in the summer capital, security forces have been deployed in strength at sensitive places across the city to prevent any untoward incident.

PDP Urges EC to Postpone Anantnag Bypolls

After two schools were set ablaze ahead of Anantnag bypolls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appealed to the Election Commission to postpone the elections in the district.

J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s brother Tasaduq Mufti, who is also a candidate, urged the EC to cancel the polls and suggest another date.

We appeal to the EC to postpone polls till the situation improves. The state government also emphasised that the present situation isn’t conducive for polls.

Reacting to Mufti’s statement, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted:

EC is well within its powers to postpone or countermand Anantnag election but if so @MehboobaMufti must resign & Governor should take charge https://t.co/Fa1vDkrleU

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) April 10, 2017

.@MehboobaMufti Tassaduq's statement is an indictment of his sister @MehboobaMufti's government & its abject failure. How can the BJP not see this?

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) April 10, 2017

Also Read: Internet Services in Kashmir to Be Suspended Till 12 April

2 Govt Schools Designated As Poll Booths Set on Fire

In order to disrupt the bypolls in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on 12 April, miscreants set ablaze government schools that were designated as polling booths.

On Monday, a Government Middle School in Shopian was set on fire by unknown persons while another school in Pulwama was gutted.

Security has been beefed up in and around schools and colleges where the voting will be conducted.

Also Read: In Photos: 8 Deaths, Protests Cast Shadow Over Srinagar Bypolls