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JK may extend deadline for
second phase of census

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

The Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday said it would extend the deadline for completion of the second phase of census in the state amidst allegations that it is forcing state employees to participate in the exercise.

The last deadline expired on October 5.

Dreaded terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen has boycotted the state census and has threatened violence against government employees participating in the exercise.

Director Census, J&K, Feroze Ahmad, however, denied that employees were being forced to carry out census work.

"Shortly, a meeting of all district magistrates will be convened to discuss the new deadline," Ahmad said. He agreed that little headway had been made in the work in the valley following threats from the Hizb.

He, however, said census work is progressing smoothly in Jammu, Ladakh and border areas of the state.

State employees in Pulwama in north Kashmir had recently alleged that their salaries were being held back as a punishment for refusing census work.

Over a thousand employees last week held a demonstration in Pulwama against "harassment by officials."

Ahmad maintained that allegations of coercion are baseless. "Census is a public affair and cannot be conducted unless the people fully co-operate," he said.

The first phase of census, including the house listing, has been completed by 22,000 enumerators.

The Hizb's call to boycott the second phase of census came immediately after the outfit withdrew its unilateral cease-fire.

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