The National Conference on Saturday questioned the credibility of identification process ahead of elections later this year as militants infiltrating into Kashmir have managed to acquire voter identity cards.
Srinagar, May 3 : The National Conference on Saturday questioned the credibility of identification process ahead of elections later this year as militants infiltrating into Kashmir have managed to acquire voter identity cards.
The unprecedented security breach came to light recently when identity cards were recovered from the bodies of militant commanders Tufail alias Abu Eisa and Abdul Majid alias Osman.
Security forces are on the alert, since this has grim portents ahead of elections.
"The infiltrators have managed to obtain electoral photo identity cards and after mingling with the local population here, they maintain a vigil over the movements of security forces, government and the police and surreptitiously indulge in terrorist activities. This is a major challenge for the security forces and that is why we have warned them to check this trend," said Haseeb Mughal, Superintendent of Police, Handwara.
The two militants were killed in an encounter on January 19-20 this year. Incidentally, the police was under the impression that these militants had fake identify cards in their possession but subsequent investigations showed that the cards were genuine and were officially registered with the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer.
This startling revelation has turned the scanner on all the 40-lakh I-cards already issued by the Election Commission.
The opposition National Conference party has questioned the credibility of the process of issuing the voter identity cards issued by the Election Commission of India.
"I have drafted a letter which I plan to send to the Election Commission in one or two days. When the consultation process with the political parties begins, we will have to tell the Election Commission that we do not recognise these cards, nor do we rely on these. Either the existing cards should be scrutinised again to assess they are genuineness, or, the Election Commission will have to find a foolproof identification process," said Omar Abdullah, President, National Conference.
Omar Abdullah also added that the entire process of issuing the voter identity cards is dubious.
The Election Commission has now declared that no fresh cards be issued pending further orders.
Photo I-cards for voters were introduced in Jammu and Kashmir during the 2002 Assembly polls.
ANI