Srinagar, Sept 29: Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) today hailed the Election Commission's order confining the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the state police to police lines till the completion of the third phase of polls in Kashmir valley on October 1.
Terming the steps of the commission as "encouraging", PDP supremo Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that confinement of SOG to police lines and deposit of EVMs in strong rooms would restore faith of the people in the democracy. Talking to reporters here today, Mufti said that the EC was quick to respond to PDP's complaints and defective EVMs were replaced quickly and attempts at booth capturing were rendered futile. Sayeed said that his party was not banking upon the anti-incumbency factor alone but hoped that people would support PDP as it has been advocating talks with separatists and militants to ring in peace in the valley.
Referring to the statement of Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami that Centre would initiate talks with separatists after the elections, Sayeed said Centre has also realized that a dialogue was the only way to resolve the issue.

Bureau Report