Police refute Mehbooba's claims

Srinagar, May 25:   District Police Anantnag on Saturday issued a statement on X , refuting PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's and candidate from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency claims of detention of some his party workers.

"Claims were made by a political party that their workers have been detained. Firstly, detentions are very few & restricted only to those who have a tainted past and based on credible inputs of potential threats to law and order & security on polling day. Mostly they are OGWs [Over Ground Workers] & are taken into preventive custody for ensuring a safe and peaceful election," Police said in a post on X on Saturday morning.

The police emphasised that their actions were aimed at maintaining peace and security during the polling process. "The detentions are preventive measures to ensure that the elections are conducted smoothly and without any disturbances. Our primary goal is to protect the integrity of the electoral process and safeguard public order," the police added.

Mehbooba, accused the local police of unlawfully detaining her party workers and polling agents. She claimed that the detentions were part of an effort to undermine her party's electoral prospects.

"PDP workers are being locked up in police stations without any reason. They have locked up PDP polling agents in police stations," she said she demanded the immediate release of her party members.

A senior police officer said that maintaining law and order during elections is paramount. "We are doing their job to ensure a peaceful voting process. There are credible threats, we acted accordingly," he said adding that nobody will be allowed to disrupt the electioneering and prevailing peaceful environment.