EC Cancels Anantnag Bypoll Over ‘Unconducive’ Ground Conditions

Women coming out from a polling station after casting their vote for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency of Jammu and Kashmir at Budgam in Srinagar. (Photo: PTI)

The Election Commission has cancelled the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll, saying the ground situation is not conducive to hold free and fair elections.

The bypoll, earlier slated to be held on 12 April, was postponed for 25 May due to poor law and order situation.

The commission, which issued the order late on Monday night, said non-availability of sufficient number of security personnel was another reason to cancel the poll process.

The 10-page order said a fresh date would be announced later.

Also Read: Is This the Lowest Voter Turnout in a Jammu & Kashmir Election?

This development comes ahead of two tumultuous incidents in the Valley on Monday. One involved killing of four policemen and two bank officials by suspected terrorists in Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday, police said. The accused also looted a cash van of the bank.

In another incident, the Pakistan Army killed two Indian soldiers in unprovoked cross-border firing and mutilated their bodies in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Monday.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley called the mutilation of the bodies “an act of barbarism” and said the armed forces will react to it appropriately.

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