Srinagar: PDP leader Waheed ur- Rehman Para, who was arrested by the NIA last month, won the DDC elections as a PAGD candidate from Pulwama A constituency on Tuesday.
Para, who is the People's Democratic Party (PDP) youth wing president, was fighting against BJP's Sajad Ahmed Raina and JKAP's Ghulam Hassan Mir. This was Para's first election.
The PDP leader was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 25, a day after he had filed his nomination for the DDC elections from Pulwama in South Kashmir. He is currently in Jammu’s Amphalla jail.
According to the NIA officials, he was arrested for his alleged links in a terror case involving a Hizbul Mujahideen commander. When the Central government amended Jammu and Kashmir's Article 370 on 5 August 2019, Waheed Para was arrested for six months.
Para is a close aide to former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who has called the youth leader's arrest a "witch hunt" by the BJP government.
Congratulating Para, Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter and said, "Couldn’t be prouder of PDPs @parawahid who won his maiden election by a huge margin of votes. Despite being arrested on baseless charges right after filing his nomination people have shown their love and trust for Waheed. Hope justice prevails."
Also read: JK DDC POLLS: Jailed PDP leader wins DDC elections
