Srinagar, In the latest elections in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, numerous local political parties have voiced allegations of harassment and coercion by Indian security forces aimed at inflating voter turnout. This election is the first significant polling event in the region following the revocation of its special status in 2019 by the Indian government.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the deployment of security forces in the Srinagar-Pulwama constituency was particularly aggressive, with incidents of political activists being detained and local populations being pressured to vote. These actions have been widely condemned by local leaders as attempts to legitimize the electoral process in a region where the political situation remains highly contentious and disputed.
Naeem Akhtar, a leader from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reported via social media that a party election agent was arrested in a nocturnal raid, reflecting a broader pattern of intimidation. Additionally, PDP leader Waheed Para accused election officials of obstructing their agents at polling stations, disrupting the electoral process.
Further complaints arose from the National Conference, whose leader highlighted a cordon and search operation (CASO) launched in Pulwama on the eve of the elections, allegedly leading to arrests and heightened tensions in the area. These measures have drawn sharp criticism, with accusations that they reflect a broader strategy by the Indian government to suppress genuine political engagement and dissent in the region.