DDC members, political workers try to flee from hotel, demand separate security

Several councillors and party workers have been staying in a local hotel in Ganderbal due to the rising attacks on politicians in Kashmir in the last few years. These political leaders, on Tuesday, tried to flee from the hotel citing they haven't met their families for a year and that they feel imprisoned in a closed structure.

Ganderbal: Political workers of several parties and DDC members tried to flee a local hotel on Tuesday where they have been staying for over a year due to security reasons. However, the police intervened and foiled their plan.

This comes days after BJP leader Rakesh Pandita was killed by militants in Tral area of South Kashmir. Several councillors and party workers have been staying in a local hotel in Ganderbal due to the rising attacks on politicians in Kashmir in the last few years. Taking note of the risks they face, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has identified local hotels and guest houses to house these political workers and councillors and provide them adequate safety within such premises.

However, the DDC members complained that they haven't met their families for a year and that they feel imprisoned in a closed structure.

Addressing a press conference later, the members staying at the hotel demanded that they be allowed to go to their homes. "We should be given separate security, each one of us. We can't remain in this hotel forever. We want to be close to our families and the police here don't allow that," one of the councillors said.

After the killing of Pandita, Jammu and Kashmir had issued an advisory last week asking the protected persons not to go anywhere without PSOs and an assessment of the local threat.