J&K DDC Polls: Amid Third Phase Of Voting Candidate Shot In Anantnag, Search Operations On

In a shocking incident, a candidate of the Apni party was shot during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir District Development Council (DDC).

Image (Twitter/ANI)

New Delhi: On Friday the District Development Council DDC Election was disrupted when one of the candidates was shot in the Kokernag area of Anantnag. His condition has been reported stable though more details are awaited.

A shocking incident took place on Friday, as the District Development Election was disrupted when a candidate Anees Ahmed of J&K Apni Party from Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag has been shot at as the third phase of polls are underway in the Union Territory. His condition has been reported by ANI as stable.

An official told Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that Anees Ahmad, affiliated with J&K Apni Party, who has filed his form as DDC candidate from Sagam Kokernag block, was shot at and injured in Sagam area. Another report stated that Anees received a bullet wound in the arm. He was immediately rushed to SDH Kokernag for treatment.

According to Kashmir New Observer, he was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. An official while confirming the incident said that area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers. (KNO)

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday afternoon dubbed the reports as being "disturbing". He tweeted, "I hope and pray that he survives the attack. Elections have always brought out the worst in those forces who have remained inimical to peace in Kashmir”.

The polling for 33 DDC seats -- 16 in Kashmir and 17 in the Jammu division -- began at 7 am but little enthusiasm was seen at the polling stations in the valley, the officials said according to media reports. They said voter turnout is expected to pick up later in the day as the polling is scheduled to conclude at 2 pm.

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