FIR against Mehbooba for intimidating voters: EC

In a jolt to the ruling PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission on Tuesday ordered filing of an FIR against its President Mehbooba Mufti, who is a candidate for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency going to polls on May 5, for allegedly intimidating voters on the April 26 phase of polls in the State.

"The EC has asked the concerned authorities there to file an FIR against her for intimidating voters under Section 171(c) of IPC", EC Spokesman AN Jha told reporters after a full Commission meeting.

He said there were complaints from the State alleging that Mehbooba had gone to a polling station and intimidated voters and allegedly pulled the veil from the face of a voter.

Jha said the Commission had also received a report from the authorities.

The National Conference had filed a complaint with the election authorities after Mehbooba had gone inside a polling booth at Burn Hall school and lifted veil of a woman.

In its complaint, the party had alleged that Mehbooba had abused her power by storming the polling booth along with her security guards and threatened the voters.

After lodging the complaint with the state election office, the NC had threatened to boycott the subsequent phases of polls if the EC failed to take note of their complaint.

Following this the state election commission conducted an enquiry and submitted its report to the EC.