Massive crackdown launched in South Kashmir ahead of sham polls

In occupied Kashmir, the authorities have launched a massive crackdown in South Kashmir ahead of the so-called Municipal and Panchayat elections, arresting dozens of people in Pulwama district.

The personnel of Indian police and its Special Operations Group (SOG) raided several villages of the district including Kalampora, Qasba Yar, Drubgam, Bellow, Murran, Rohmoo and Nowpora over the past couple of days and detained scores of people.

The phase-wise Municipal elections are set to begin from Monday (October 8) in occupied Kashmir. The Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik has called for complete shutdown in the territory on the day to register protest against the holding of the polls.

Meanwhile, the occupation authorities have established dozens of check-posts in different areas of Srinagar including Dalgate, Maulana Azad Road, Residency Road, Amira Kadal, Budshah Bridge, Jahangir Chowk and Batamaloo, causing huge inconvenience to the people particularly commuters.

In downtown areas, police and paramilitary personnel are checking vehicles, particularly bikers, demanding identity cards and other documents and frisking passengers thoroughly. The commuters said that Indian police and troops had established check-points at almost all major intersections. They said that all entry and exit points of the city are sealed by the forces’ personnel at dusk.

“When I leave for home after closing my shop in the evening, the presence of troops on roads is much more. They keep checking vehicles and documents. I prefer to leave early these days,” said Rayees Ahmed, who runs a shop at Lal Chowk.

Many private-sector employees who work late in their offices said that although these measures looked routine during the day, it was really frightful when masked troops stopped their vehicles late in the evening.

“I live in downtown and come late from my office. Every day I am stopped at check-posts on the way home. I feel frightened at times when troops surround my vehicle,” said a downtown youth.

On the other hand, unidentified persons set ablaze paddy crop belonging to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for upcoming Municipal elections in Dooru-Verinag area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

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