Poll record tainted, Farooq wants to sue

‘‘He (Lyngdoh) should substantiate it with evidence,’’ former Chief minister Farooq Abdullah said this morning. ‘‘It’s unfortunate. We are planning legal action. We will submit a complaint with the Supreme Court,’’ he said. ‘‘Those living in glass houses should not throw stones at others.’’

NC chief Omar Abdullah later said: ‘‘We will file a defamation case against him (Lyngdoh),’’ he said. ‘‘He cannot make such statements. He needs to either substantiate his allegations or withdraw them immediately.’’

The EC-NC spat isn’t new. In fact, right through the poll process, the Farooq government was not too happy with a string of EC’s measures: moving several district police chiefs and deputy commissioners; removal of two senior police officers and getting half of the polling staff from outside the state.

Lyngdoh’s statements echo what the Opposition had alleged during the polls. In fact, the Congress had accused the Farooq government of ‘‘creating a private militia of surrendered militants called National Defence Force in Anantnag to help the NC.’’

The party had even alleged that each member of this militia was paid Rs 3,000 as monthly renumeration and their job was to ‘‘spread a scare among Opposition party workers to ensure a low turnout.’’

Said a senior EC officer who did not wish to be named: ‘‘The EC was tough and there was resentment in the ruling party. The then DCs at Poonch and Udhampur were moved before the polls. So was then SSP Kupwara G M Dar becuase there was a question mark over their objectivity.’’

The EC-NC tussle exacerbated when an Additional Director General of Police was removed from a key assignment in security because he was deemed to be close to the NC.

This was followed by removing another top police officer who was then sent for a training course in the US.

Moreover, the EC directed the state government to ensure that men of the Special Operations Group avoided any contact with the civilian population during the poll process.

Sources said that this order was issued because ‘‘the EC had inputs that a senor police officer deemed close to NC enjoyed substantial clout in the SOG and could have easily influenced them to help the NC.’’