Srinagar: A case was registered Sunday on surfacing of posters in Jammu division’s Doda district after which over a dozen suspected persons were rounded up for questioning, the official said.
The nine-phase village panchayat elections are scheduled to start in the state on November 17.
Police received specific information about the pasting of some posters purportedly by Hizbul Mujahideen militant group with the intention to disrupt the upcoming elections. The message on the posters asked prospective candidates not to participate in the panchayat election, he said, PTI reported
He said the police swung into action and registered a case under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Ranbir Penal Code at Doda police station and started investigation.
During the preliminary investigation, around 13 suspects were rounded up and questioned, the officer said, adding further probe is on in the matter.
Some more suspects are likely to be questioned, he added.
Doda Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg visited the area Saturday and held a public meeting to reassure people not to be afraid of miscreants’ threat and understand their designs, the officer said.
The police have also launched regular patrolling in the area, besides conducting the police-community partnership group meetings in Dhandal and Kastigarh areas and assured them that the miscreants would be traced soon and booked, the official said.
“The police appealed people remain steadfast and participate in the democratic process without any fear “to frustrate the nefarious designs of the elements inimical to the peace and development”, he said.
As many as 232 nominations have been filed in Kashtigarh block for 88 seats of panch and sarpanch of village panchayats.
