Mohammad Yasin Malik arrested in Srinagar for poll boycott call

Police on Tuesday arrested Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, ahead of Municipal polls scheduled from 8th of this month in the state of J&K. 

A police party from Maisuma police station this afternoon raided Abiguzar office of JKLF and detained its Chairman.

A party Spokesman in a statement said that police arrested Malik to prevent him from carrying out election boycott campaign. 

It may be in place to mention that Joint Hurriyat Leadership has asked people to stay away from elections which are scheduled to be held from October 8th, in four phases in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Terming the scheduled ULB and Panchayat polls as “rape of democracy”, Yasin Malik said those who ask people to boycott “so-called” elections are detained under Public Safety Act (PSA). He also said the “candidates” who have filed their nominations for elections have justified their role in strengthening government forces threshold to convert valley into a virtual “garrison”. 

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“This is rape of democracy. Asking people to stay away from elections is a democratic right which is being snatched. Those who are contesting so-called elections are strengthening threshold of people from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to establish army camps in our villages and towns,” Malik said before his detention. 

He said such exercises are undemocratic and aimed at strengthening the illegal occupation of India on disputed land. 

JKLF Chairman said since Hurriyat has already called for complete election boycott; people should endorse the call and stay away from elections. He also alleged that JRL leaders and activists are jailed under PSA and then lodged at different jails in and outside the state. 

“I appeal people to make this process (election boycott) successful. Today when I asked police why I am being arrested, they replied ahead of elections. Believe me these elections are sold in every nook and corner of India, so boycott it,” JKLF Chairman said. 

Meanwhile, The National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have decided to boycott the polls until the Centre gave an assurance to protect Article 35A, against which a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court. The article confers special status to the permanent residents of the state. 

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