Jammu & Kashmir:
Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), raised serious concerns on Saturday, May 25, alleging unwarranted detentions of her party’s workers and polling agents by local authorities. Additionally, Mufti expressed apprehension over reported attempts to tamper with electronic voting machines (EVMs), further complicating an already contentious electoral process. As a candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat in South Kashmir, Mufti, alongside her party cohorts, is actively protesting these alleged infringements on democratic processes.
Adding to the concerns, Mufti disclosed that her outgoing mobile calls had been abruptly suspended without any official explanation. She stated, “Since morning, I have been unable to make any calls. The sudden suspension of services on the polling day in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency lacks justification,” as reported by PTI. The PDP reiterated these grievances on social media platforms, drawing attention to the sudden suspension of Mufti’s cellular phone service and the widespread detention of party members and polling agents across the region.
Contrary to Mufti’s claims, the Anantnag Police contended that detentions were few and targeted individuals with a questionable past, based on credible intelligence regarding potential disruptions to the electoral process. They emphasized that these detentions were primarily preventive measures aimed at upholding law and order and ensuring the safety of the electoral environment. In the midst of these controversies, Mufti faces stiff competition from National Conference (NC) candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad and Zafar Iqbal Manhas of the Apni Party, turning the election into a tightly contested three-way race.
