International Desk:
Indian authorities have arrested at least 75 leaders and activists in Kashmir after the anti-Prime Minister Narendra Modi alliance won the district elections. Reuters quoted Kashmir’s political leaders and activists as saying on Saturday.
The eight-stage district development council was elected from November 26 to December 19. As per the results released on Wednesday, out of 270 seats, the PAGD got 112, the BJP 64 and the pro-alliance Congress 28 seats. Kashmiris voiced their opposition to the Modi government in the first election after Kashmir’s status as a special state was revoked last year.
A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the detainees included separatist leaders and members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
Imran Nabi Dar, a spokesman for the National Conference, an ally of the anti-Modi coalition, said the arrests were in defiance of the people’s verdict.
Omar Abdullah, head of the National Conference, said the alliance’s victory showed that Modi’s decision to revoke the status of a special state in Kashmir was not accepted by the people of the state.
