Thaindian News

Jammu, April 7 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir government is worried over the rising separatist campaign against the panchayat elections in Kashmir Valley, the first phase of which is to be held April 13.

The matter came up for discussion between Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in their meeting Wednesday evening, according to official sources.

Kashmiri separatist leaders, particularly the hardline Hurriyat faction chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have started delivering anti-India and anti-poll speeches. He has cautioned the people against participation in the polls.

He is openly calling for the boycott of polls, but no action is being taken against him, as the government is wary that any action against the separatist leader might lead to worsening of the law and order situation in the Valley.

Official sources told IANS that the governor and chief minister discussed the negative campaign of the separatist leaders and the measures to counter it.

Vohra who had successfully conducted the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in November-December 2008 which saw unprecedented 61 percent participation of the voters , is reported to have shared his ways of holding the polls.

Meanwhile, the security forces have started area domination in the villages where polls are to be held.

This time, no additional troops are being brought from outside the state, according to Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda. He had told reporters here last week that the state police and CRPF or Central Reserve Police Force would be looking after the security matters and that’s one of the reasons that the polls have been stretched to 16 phases.

More than 4,000 panchayats would be going to polls, which will conclude by May-end.