Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 6: At least 15 candidates withdrew from the J&K local body polls after two workers of the National Conference, which is boycotting the polls, were shot dead and another injured by suspected militants in Srinagar's old city Friday morning. Late evening, the house of a candidate in Hajin in north Kashmir was attacked by unidentified men who, police said, hurled "some type of substance" that set ablaze a pile of clothes. The candidate was not in the house at the time of the incident.
Through the day, there were a total of 23 nomination withdrawals in Srinagar which will vote in phase four of the polls - phase one starts October 8. Sources said 15 withdrawals were made in the afternoon following the killings. For the 25 wards that make the Srinagar municipal corporation, 146 people had filed nomination papers.
One of the candidates, Muzamil Jan, from the Dalgate ward reserved for women, told that she pulled out of the contest because she feared for her three children. "My elderly mother-in-law was very frightened after the incident. We also felt that if workers of a party which is not contesting (NC) the polls can be killed, what support can I hope for as an independent candidate," she said. |
