Pulwama and Shopian, districts of Southern Kashmir will go to polls on 6 May. Amid polls, extremist group Hizbul Mujahideen posters are coming out as a warning to voters to refrain from voting. The posters were circulated on the social networking sites here and were reportedly plastered outside the mosque walls and lamp posts.
Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Riyaz Naikoo, said through the poster that the people who participated in the elections to “support the pro-Indian parties” will face dire consequences.
The posters warned the people from casting the ballot. In one of the warnings, Admonishing those who are supporting the mainstream political parties, Hizbul Mujahideen said that “You have been warned many a time, but there are some who are not showing respect to the blood of our martyrs. The time of advice has passed, now they will have to face death.”
Gun-wielding security force personnel were patrolling on the roads. The army has asked the local elders to ensure that there was no stone pelting in the area on the polling day where at least six people including some activists of Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) have been arrested in the past few months.
The militant outfit has also said that they have got the videos of those who have taken part in the election rallies “and their fate will be known by the general public in a few days.”
The Hizbul Mujahideen also said that they have received information that the army and police will force the “people to cast the vote” and warned the police personnel of dire consequences.
This is how Hizbul threatens public
“We have received information that at the time of elections, police and the army will force you to vote. Those people should be ready for death. You will have to decide whether you will vote to taste the death,” read one of the posters. It also asked the informants of the police and army that they will be taken to task and advised people them to withdraw their children from the Army Goodwill schools.
Valley police started checking the authenticity of the posters. Across Pulwama and Shopian the security personnel was seen patrolling the roads while at many places they also carried out checking of vehicles.
“The army has asked the local elders to assure that the youth won’t pelt stones on the day of polling and should cast the ballot,” said a local resident. Residents said that at least six people including a cleric have been arrested in the last over three months in the village.
