SRINAGAR: Buoyed by separatist sentiments, Srinagar residents unleashed their fury with abuses and stones on candidates of different political parties. Despite denials to the effect, a softening on the poll boycott call by separatists has become apparent. JKLF activists have proved to be the exception.

A crowd pelted stones at the motorcade procession of PDP candidate for Amira Kadal, Altaf Bukhari in Maisuma area near Budshah chowk on November 22. Chief minister Omar Abdullah himself got a taste of a hostile mob on Monday at Tankipora in Srinagar while accompanying his candidate Nisar Aslam Wani to file nomination papers for Amira Kadal constituency to the deputy commissioner’s office.

CM Omar encountered the angry mob raising pro-azadi slogans when he emerged from the DC’s office after filing nomination papers for Wani. Eyewitness reports said that on reaching the venue, Omar was greeted by his supporters shouting slogans in his and the National Conference’s favour. However, when he came out of the office, it was a hostile crowd that awaited him with slogans against his government and him. After unsuccessful attempts to pacify the agitating mob, Omar beat a hasty retreat.

Angry protests also greeted Sanajy Saraf, Lok Janshakti Party candidate for Habba Kadal constituency on Monday outside the office of Srinagar Municipality at Karan Nagar where he had gone to file his nomination papers. According to eye witnesses stones were pelted at his cavalcade. Saraf was also attacked by an angry mob on August 29 during a public rally at Habba Kadal. Protesting the stoning of his cavalcade, he blamed NC workers for attempting to enforce election boycott in old Srinagar.

“The NC activists stoned my cavalcade. I identified four youths and have lodged an FIR in the concerned police station against them,” the LSP candidate alleged.

Violence erupted in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on Saturday when stones were pelted at a PDP rally near Maisuma area. Three party activists were injured and several vehicles damaged in the incident.

Similarly Bukhari’s cavalcade came under attack near Lal Chowk after filing his nomination papers in the DC office. Groups of youth pelted stones at the party vehicles creating tension in the area and halting vehicular traffic. Police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the violent crowd unleashing its fury on the cavalcade. Reports also mentioned tear gas being fired to bring the situation under control.

Three PDP activists were injured and nearly half a dozen vehicles damaged due to stone pelting near Budshah chowk.

Five phased J&K assembly elections are scheduled to begin on November 25 with fifteen constituencies going to polls on Tuesday.