Opposition National Conference (NC) leader Iftikhar Misger, who unsuccessfully contested the assembly by-poll against Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, was today forced to shout 'azadi' slogans and announce renunciation of mainstream politics.
Misger, who lives in the volatile Cheeni Chowk area of Anantnag town in south Kashmir, was stopped by a mob, taken to a local mosque, forced to shout 'pro-freedom' slogans and asked to give up mainstream politics to join separatist camp, reports reaching here from Anantnag said.
Misger, who lost to Mehbooba in the by-poll in June, was then let off by the people.
While police officials refused to either confirm or deny the incident, sources said efforts were on to take out the NC leader and his family from the area to some safer location.
Misger was a last minute candidate of the NC against late PDP patron and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2014 assembly elections after senior NC leader Mehboob Beg defected to the now ruling party.
