‘Elections are haram’: Kashmiri militant groups ask voters to stay away from Lok Sabha polls

Srinagar: Days ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, militant groups Hizbul Mujahideen and Ansar Ghazwatul Hind Sunday released audio messages on social media websites asking Kashmiri voters to not participate in the polls due to be held this month.

While Hizbul operational commander Riyaz Naikoo in his audio “requested” the Kashmiri people to stay away from rallies and elections, and targeted Kashmiri politicians, Ansar Ghazwatul Hind chief Zakir Musa in his address said voting was forbidden in Islam and those who vote would be “rebelling against Allah’s established law”.

Jammu and Kashmir’s first phase of elections will be held on 11 April in the North Kashmir constituency.

The terror threat gains significance at a time when the authorities are expecting low voter turnout owing to the security situation in the state.

The local police are yet to officially verify the audios, but a senior Jammu & Kashmir police officer told ThePrint that “it was expected the militant commanders would release a message right before the elections (in Kashmir)”.

“There is always a threat to the election exercise in the Valley but we are taking all necessary precautions,” the officer said on condition of anonymity.

‘Traitor if you vote’

In the 15-minute audio clip, Naikoo evoked names of several local Kashmiri politicians calling them “agents of India”. However, former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Shah Faesal’s name stood out in the address.

Faesal recently resigned from his post and formed his own political outfit named the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement.

Neither Faesal nor his party will be contesting the general elections.

“Every person who votes is a traitor because they strengthen India’s hold in Kashmir. You say we vote for roads, water and electricity. You say we don’t vote for India but you know how India portrays your vote internationally,” said Naikoo, addressing his audience.

Naikoo, a former school teacher turned militant, belongs to Kashmir’s Pulwama region.

“People who are participating in election rallies and those who plan to vote, I want to ask them, how will you respond to those who have sacrificed their lives for your freedom? What will you tell the kids who have gone blind for the movement of Kashmir,” said Naikoo.

“Do not support those parties who want to strengthen India’s hold in Kashmir. Support the Mujahideen who are sacrificing their lives for Islam and your freedom.”

Naikoo also targeted other Kashmiri politicians in his address.

“Farooq Abdullah in Delhi said Kashmir ko goli maro. When children here were getting killed, Mehbooba Mufti said had they gone to buy toffee and Sajad Lone has done nothing but strengthen BJP in Kashmir. He swore by the Quran and lied. He didn’t care for Quran, how will he care for you. They are all agents of India,” he said.

‘More oppression’

Apart from Faesal, his party member and former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Shehla Rashid also featured prominently in the audio message.

“You want to push Kashmir to more oppression. Have we not seen enough? We don’t care for your election. Many people think you have sacrificed a lot because of your actions and that you will do good but they don’t know that it is a trap that you set up to catch rats,” Naikoo said, addressing Faesal.

Naikoo added he was “saddened” by the fact that educated youth like Faesal and Rashid were “pushing their people towards oppression and cheating them”.

“I will leave the gun and join you if you would prove me, through the history of Kashmir and Quran, that I am wrong,” Naikoo can be heard saying in the audio clip.

“But if I prove you wrong, I will not ask you to join me.”

‘Pakistan enemy of Mujahideen’

The second audio clip released on social media websites is of the chief of the Ansar Gazwatul Hind, a militant group largely believed to be inspired by al Qaeda.

The group, led by former Hizbul commander Zakir Rashid, popularly known as Zakir Musa, had less than 10 militants of which most were killed in encounters late last year. Musa himself hadn’t released a message for over a year.

Now, in his latest audio, besides asking Kashmiri voters to refrain from the general elections, the former Hizbul terrorist bashed India and Pakistan for “conspiring to end the Jihadi movement at the behest of United States of America”.

In his message, Musa described the Pakistani Army and the government as the “biggest enemy” to Mujahideen and Jihad.

“Pakistan’s Army and government in this region are the biggest enemies to Mujahideen and our jihad. On one side they get our Mujahideen killed by their treachery and on the other side present themselves as the mind of Jihadi movement. The truth is they are no different than masters, America,” said Musa.

Referring to the Indian Air Force’s February strike at a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp in Pakistan’s Balakot, Musa said, “When Pakistan government was hurt they got ready for a war with India immediately but when the hearts of our mothers, souls of our sisters and bodies of our brothers are wounded, they (Pakistan) talk about friendship with India. Why didn’t they fly their jets then?”

“May Allah keep us safe from conspiracies of Pakistan government and infidels of India.”

‘Haram to vote’

Musa also added that many from India and Pakistan have joined his group.

However, the local police said no new recruits have “joined the Zakir Musa group” in the past few months after senior militant leaders of the group were killed in encounters with security forces.

Musa described elections as “haram” or forbidden, saying voting, be it in India or in Pakistan, was as good as a rebellion to “Allah’s law”.

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