Hizbul Mujahideen posters warn people against taking part in polls

SRINAGAR: Amid government moves to hold local bodies and Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir, posters of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit have surfaced at a number of places in south Kashmir warning people against participating in the democratic exercise.

The posters in Urdu have been found pasted on walls at several places in Shopian district of south Kashmir where two top Hizbul Mujahideen commanders were killed in a gunbattle with security forces this morning.

"Jamhooriyat gunnah hai, iss ko Ikhtiyar karna Kufr hai (Democracy is a sin and adopting it is disbelief)," read the posters carrying the seal of Hizbul Mujahideen Divisional Commander.

The outfit asks people to stay away from the proposed elections saying nobody should vote or file forms to fight the panchayat elections.

"Whoever participates in the elections will face serious consequences," the poster warned.

The state government is planning to hold local bodies and Panchayat polls in next few months.