SEC Sharma, Omar, Bukhari, Sajad others condemn
Jahangeer Ganaie
Kokernag, Dec 4: Gunmen on Friday shot at and injured a DDC Candidate in Kokernag belt of South Kshmir’s Anantnag district.
An official told KNO that a DDC candidate namely Anees Ahmad affiliated with JK Apni Party, who has filed his form as DDC candidate from Sagam Kokernag block, was shot at and injured in Sagam area. He said that he was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
A police spokesman in a statement said that at 12 noon, police received information about a crime incident at Sagam, Kokernag area of district Anantnag, where militants had fired upon a DDC candidate. “Senior police officers immediately reached the crime spot,” the spokesman said.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that militants had fired upon an independent DDC candidate of Sagam constituency at Sagam, Kokernag in district Anantnag. “In this incident, he has received injuries in small finger of his left hand and minor injury on thigh. The injured was immediately evacuated to nearby hospital for the treatment of his injuries, where his condition is stated to be stable. He has been identified as Anees-ul-Islam Ganie son of late Fareed Ahmad Ganie resident of Sagam,” the police spokesman said.
He was allocated cluster accommodation in Khanabal and after end of scrutiny period he was properly informed by Police Station Kokernag on the evening of December 3, regarding the same. “Besides, he was instructed to get escort personnel for campaigning purpose which he did not take. Pertinently, all the candidates have already been instructed to inform us before going out for campaigning. The information regarding his movement was neither conveyed to PCR nor to concerned Police Station,” the police spokesman said.
In this regard, Police has registered a case vide FIR No. 149/2020 under relevant sections of law at Police Station Kokernag. “Investigation has been initiated and officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this crime. Area has been cordoned and search in the area is going on,” he said.
The police spokesman said that IGP Kashmir has once again requested all the candidates and vulnerable people to inform concerned PCRs or Police Stations as and when they are desirous of going for poll campaign or such movements so that appropriate security arrangements are accordingly provided to them.
SEC Sharma, Omar, Sajad, Altaf, Tarigami, Shah condemn attack
Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner K.K Sharma condemned the attack on a DDC candidate from Sagam constituency of Anantnag district Anees Ul Islam.
The SEC said that the candidate had been advised by police on 3rd December after scrutiny of nominations to get escort for campaigning which he unfortunately did not take. He further said that the candidate has suffered minor injuries and his condition is stable.
A case has been registered by the police and they have advised all the candidates to follow the security SOPs. SEC maintained and added that a security review of candidates is also being under taken.
Several politicians including the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah Friday condemned the attack on District Development Council (DDC) candidate in Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Omar Abdullah in a tweet said that elections have always brought out the worst in those forces who have remained inimical to peace in Kashmir.
Former minister and Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman, Sajad Gani Lone, who is also the spokesman of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), in a tweet said that the attack on him is detestable to say the least.
Meanwhile in a statement Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari condemned the attack on Anees-ul-Islam Party’s contesting candidate for DDC elections.
Bukhari said such violent incidents add to the miseries and sufferings of people and cannot be condoned by anyone in civilized society across the world. “This dastardly attack on our contesting candidate is a manifestation of frustration among forces inimical to peace and rising popularity of the Apni Party among the people,” he said while urging the government to take serious cognizance of this incident and take all necessary security measures in this regard.
CPI (M) senior leader and former MLA Kulgam, M Y Tarigami in a statement issued here said that the attack on a DDC candidate at Kokernag area of Anantnag by gunmen is highly condemnable and such incidents have no place in civilized society.
Meanwhile, Awami National Conference (ANC) Senior Vice President, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah also condemned the attack on DDC candidate and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
