Aakash Hassan
Srinagar

As the situation on ground continues to be on edge in Kashmir, Union Home Ministry, as per reports, has been informed by agencies that the current “atmosphere” is “not conducive” for Islamabad by-polls scheduled next month. The by-poll earlier scheduled on April 12 was postponed to May 25 after dismal turnout and violent clashes during the Srinagar bypoll on April 9.

Government sources said that security forces, led by CRPF and some senior officials from the Home Ministry are of the view that the Islamabad bypoll can only be held in three-four phases with heavy security deployment, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday.

KL File Image 

“We can only provide security at polling booths but cannot ensure voter turnout. The situation in the Valley is fragile and holding the bypoll next month is not favourable,” the newspaper quoted a top CRPF official.

On the day of Srinagar by-poll at least eight civilians were killed and more than hundred people were injured. One of the injured succumbed on Wednesday in SKIMS.

Incidents of stone pelting and violence were reported at two hundred places that day, as per state Election Commissioner, Shantmanu. Later ECI held re-poll on 38 polling stations of Budgam under massive forces deployment.

Government sources are apprehensive about the Islamabad by-polls.

“It looks that it will not be possible for us to held by-poll in south Kashmir taking in view the current situation,” a senior official told Kashmir Life.

Moreover, the continuing student protests have added to the already tense situation. The mass student protests in Kashmir erupted after forces barged into the campus in of Government Degree College Pulwama that resulted into intense clashes. More than fifty students were injured in the clashes.

Later, the protests spread across Kashmir as students came on roads to condemn the forces ‘highhandedness’.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here