On 11 September 2002, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, Law Minister of J&K and the National Conference (NC) candidate for Lolab constituency, was killed by militants while addressing an election rally in Tikipora. Last week, the militants killed Abdur Rehman Sheikh, an independent candidate, contesting from Handwara.

   An increase in militants’ activities, especially against those who are mobilising the people for the election was expected, and many believe that this election will be the bloodiest of all. However, these two killings assume importance for several other factors.

   Both the candidates who were assassinated hail from district of Kupwara. It is no coincidence that in the last few weeks, an unprecedented poll fever has been plaguing Kupwara, especially the three constituencies of Kupwara, Lolab and Handwara. Such enthusiasm for elections wasn’t expected in the district. During a visit to the Valley in early August, this researcher found a lot of indifference for elections among the local population.

   What made the drastic turnaround in the election scenario was the participation of the People’s Conference (PC) proxies. Handwara is considered to be a PC stronghold. The slain leader, Abdul Ghani Lone, who founded the PC and was looked upon as a moderate in the Harriet, was elected from this constituency in the elections of 1967, 1972 and 1977. It was mainly because the PC (which was a part of the Hurriyat) did not contest the 1996 Assembly elections, that Choudhary Ramzan from the NC was elected. The PC, today, is strong in Lolab constituency due to its traditional support base and opposition of the local population to the slain Mushtaq Ahmed Lone. 

   Mushtaq Lone was elected from Lolab in 1996 and from Kupwara in 1987. There was much dissatisfaction with Lone for not doing anything for the people but only for his relatives and his village Sogam. There is also a lot of resentment against the Hurriyat in the district, but strangely, support for the PC although is a part of the Hurriyat.

   The Lone brothers - Bilal and Sajjad - sons of Abdul Ghani Lone, are aware of these factors and allowed their second rung leaders to participate in their individual capacity. As a result the PC fielded proxy candidates – Abdul Haq Khan in Lolab and Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi in Handwara, but the local population is aware of this being only an eye-wash, so that the party could continue to be a part of the Hurriyat. Ever since, the people have been enthusiastic about the elections, mainly to defeat the National Conference and teach them a lesson.

   The sudden rise of enthusiasm in the elections did not appeal to the militants, and they have been warning against it. An open threat was issued, when they pasted posters in Lolab against any participation. The killings were a part of the militant strategy, which aims at the following, disrupting the buildup to the election in the district. By killing the contestants in the open, while campaigning, the militants aim to curb the campaign process, which seems to be quite unusual when compared to the other districts of the state. The militants are aware that a successful campaign would increase the participation by the local population, thereby increasing the polling percentage. Hence, these killings were not only aimed at the contestants but also the people.

   That is essential at this moment is to increase the protection allotted to the contestants. Security should be provided by experienced forces and not by amateurs. It should be remembered that the independent candidate, Abdur Rehman Sheikh, who was killed last week, was given protection by five Railway Police Force (RPF) personnel, who first ran away, abandoning their weapons even before the candidate was kidnapped by six to seven militants, and later killed.

   Unless individual protection to the candidates is enhanced, their movement would be restricted, which will lead to a reduction in the campaign process, that would cause a decline in popular participation and ultimately result in a low voter turnout.

   AAn indigenous momentum has been gained in the district and it is the responsibility of the state to sustain this, so that it can spread to other districts.