Anti-election demonstrators clash with police in J&K; Police detain 5 FB users for spreading rumours

Srinagar, Nov 22: Kashmiri demonstrators clashed with police and CRPF again, this time in Maisuma area.

Demonstrators shouting pro-freedom and anti-election slogans pelted stones at the motorcade of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state assembly poll candidate as he was returning after filing his nomination papers in Srinagar.

The first phase of state assembly elections will be held on November 25.

Also, five persons have been detained for allegedly spreading rumours and promoting boycott of elections due in Jammu and Kashmir, on social networking sites and messaging applications, police said here today.

"Police have detained five (online) social network users for spreading rumours, exaggerating incidents and promoting poll boycott on social networking sites particularly Facebook and Whatsapp," a police spokesman said.

The detainees were identified as Sajad Mir and Tabeeb Sheikh of Khanyar Srinagar, Shaukat Salafi of Naidkhai Bandipora and Zahid Hamid and Muneeb Farooq Wani of Hardpora Anantnag.

The spokesman said police has identified a number of persons found involved in such activities and cases are being registered against them for putting up such "fake" posts.

Police would continue to take stringent action against such users who are found to be involved in promoting "fake" news, exaggerating incidents and promoting polling boycott on their pages and accounts, he said. Action against such elements would continue, the spokesman said, adding most of such "mischief-mongers" were being continuously identified.

On Thursday, the Jammu Kashmir Police had arrested five youth in Ganderbal and Bomai towns to prevent anti-election rallies. The police said that they would be kept in 'preventive custody'.

Reportedly, the police have launched a crackdown on Hurriyat leaders and their activists across the state to prevent them from campaigning against the elections.

Last week, more than 300 youths were arrested by the security groups to ensure smooth conduct of polls.

Earlier, two people were held by the police while pasting posters asking people to stay away from the elections. The police confiscated a bag full of posters from them.

Oneindia News

With PTI Inputs