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After Srinagar violence PDP demands postponement of Anantnag bypoll

by IBNS 09 Apr 2017, 10:15 pm

Srinagar, Apr 10 (IBNS) : A day after the orgy of violence in Srinagar by-polls, in which eight people were killed, the ruling People's Democratic Party on Monday demanded that the Anantnag by-election, slated for April 12 -- be postponed, NDTV said.

According to reports, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's brother Tasaduq Mufti, who is making his political debut from Anantnag,  said he was willing to withdraw if it helps defer the polls.

The Anantnag seat fell vacant last year after Mehbooba Mufti  resigned from the Lok Sabha to take over as Chief Minister after her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's death.

"I am here for a cause. The cause is to assess situations and make things better. There was written communication (from the government) that this is not a right time for polls," NDTV quoted him as saying.

The turnout in Sunday's by-poll was only seven per cent -- the lowest in 30 years. 

As a two-day strike called by separatists protesting Sunday's killing of civilians started on Monday, Kashmir Valley remained under heavy security  as  authorities suspended internet facility in the entire valley till April 12. 

 Markets, public transports, education institutions and other businesses remained closed across the  Valley.
The Kashmir University has postponed all examinations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Repolling has been ordered at nearly 100 polling stations where, violence  disrupted voting on Sunday.