Election commission cancels by-polls for parliamentary seat in Indian-controlled Kashmir

India's election commission canceled by-polls for the Anantnag parliamentary seat in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Tuesday.

Election for the constituency was scheduled to be held on May 25.

"The election commission last night took a decision of cancelling by-polls for Anantnag parliament seat," a senior official told Xinhua. "The commission said the situation is not feasible to hold free and fair elections."

The parliamentary seat was initially supposed to go for polls on April 12. However, it was postponed to May 25 in the wake of deadly violence during the polling for Srinagar parliamentary seat, which witnessed massive anti-India protests and killing of eight civilians.

The voter turnout in Srinagar constituency was recorded 7 percent. Later on a re-poll in some areas of the constituency saw turnout of mere 2 percent. The turnout recorded was the lowest in decades.

According to the official, the commission said it would hold the election in Anantnag in due course of time when the situation is conducive for holding free and fare election.

India's state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said the commission in its order stated the Home Ministry had expressed its inability to provide adequate number of the security personnel for polling duty on short notice.

The need for by-election in Anantnag arose last year after Mehbooba Mufti resigned from the seat to become chief minister of the restive state.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of majority of Kashmiris. Irate residents threw stones and brickbats on contingents of police and paramilitary during protests, who respond by firing tear smoke shells, pellets and bullets.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endit