Geelani calls for poll boycott

Srinagar: Hours after Election Commission announced schedule for bypolls to two Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today asked people to boycott the elections.

"The sacrifices made by the youth of Kashmir should be protected by the entire nation and not traded for petty vested interests.

"To strengthen the hands of pro-India politicians tantamount to treachery with these sacrifices... The people should boycott the forthcoming panchayat and parliamentary elections," Geelani said in a statement here.

The Election Commission announced that the bypolls to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats will be held in the Kashmir Valley on April 9 and 12 respectively.

The Anantnag seat fell vacant last June after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti won the assembly polls and resigned from the Lok Sabha.

The Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was vacated by former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra who had resigned in protest against alleged "brutalities" on Kashmir protesters.