Midnight arrests, search ops may drive voters away in Pulwama

Midnight arrests and cordon and search operations (CASO) by security forces, may keep voters away on election day (May 6) in Pulwama — the terror-hit district in Anantnag constituency.

In a joint operation, the Jammu & Kashmir police along with the Indian Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) detained about 38 people from five different villages in south Kashmir. People were taken into custody under the Public Safety Act, a preventive detention law where the accused maybe confined to prison for indefinite periods without trial.

The Pulwama police confirmed that the arrested people — mostly youths — will be released only after the elections. The arrested hail from from Murran, Kangan, Gudoora, Newa and Parigam villages in Pulwama.

“We arrested those who engaged in stone pelting before. As the elections are next week, we do not want any untoward incidents,” the official said on condition of anonymity.  The officer further said more arrests were likely to follow in the run-up to the elections.

Pulwama and Shopian districts will go to polls on May 6 in the three- phase elections. The two districts are said to be crucial for former Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

After 15 years, the Army reintroduced the counter insurgency operation CASO. Clashes erupted after CASO operations in Shangerpora and Keegam villages last week. Officials claimed the search operations were based on inputs regarding the presence of militants. Reports claimed that the forces resorted to aerial firing and tear gas to disperse protesters during the clashes.

Terming the spree of arrests as undemocratic, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) chairman Mohammad Ashraf Ashraf Sehrai said it was a political witch-hunt and appealed to the police and security forces to stop threatening civilians.

“The nocturnal raids and detention of youth create a sense of insecurity. The police and security forces should stop this immediately,” Sehrai added.

The polling percentage was dismal in the first two phases of elections in Anantnag. While 13.61% was recorded in the first phase, the percentage dropped to 10.3 in the second phase on April 29. People expect a single-digit turnout if the arrests and search operations continue unabated.