Independent’s killing pours cold water on Handwara poll fervour

Candidates also fear that the killing will reflect in the low turnout on the day of voting.

‘‘Sheikh’s death has created lot of fear as four civilians were killed in the attack. People see some kind of a conspiracy as the guards surrendered their arms and fled,’’ said another Independent Abdul Rashid Khan.

‘‘People are fed up with the polls. If we vote we will be killed by the militants and if we don’t the Army will start harassing us,’’ said a villager from Wadipora, Mohammad Sadik.

However, people in hometown, Machipora, fondly recall the slain candidate’s contribution to downtrodden on the fourth day of the mourning ceremony. ‘‘He was a leader who cared for his people. He preferred to contest as an Independent and never sought mandate from any party as he felt that he could do more as an Independent,’’ said party worker Ghulam Nabi.

His close aides accuse the Handwara SP of neglecting his pleas for security. ‘‘He had asked the Handwara SP and DSP for more security but he was told either to resign or withdraw,’’ said close aide Abdul Rashid.

Sheikh’s family say that no one from the ruling party has turned up to console them. ‘‘No one from the government has come to our place to sympathise with us,’’ said his 30-year-old son Bashir Sheikh.