Anantnag, April 27: A video has been going viral in social media which shows an armoured police vehicle transporting food and water bottles to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency has emerged online, leading authorities to launch an investigation. The state police claimed that the armoured vehicle was meant to transport security officials for protecting political leaders at an election rally addressed by BJP leader Ram Madhav.

The police officials said that the security vehicle has been misused. "Today, a video wherein a police vehicle is seen being utilised for distribution of food items in a political party rally at Anantnag surfaced on social media," a police statement read. Anantnag Lok Sabha Constituency in Jammu & Kashmir: Candidates, Current MP, Polling Date And Election Results 2019.

"The vehicle in question was deployed for ferrying escort personnel of a protected person. The vehicle has been withdrawn from the said protected person, and the vehicle driver has been attached. An inquiry has been ordered into the matter," the statement read.

Watch video of the incident:

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also reacted to the incident. "Well done @JmuKmrPolice.You have always helped the needy & this is another example. You have set aside your obligations under the election code of conduct to help a political party in need but please confine it to drinks/food.We hope you will not be as generous with bogus voting," he tweeted.

Elections in Anantnag are taking place in three-phases from April 23 to May 6. From the constituency, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party is contesting against BJP's Sofi Yusuf, Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference and Ghulam Hassan Mir of the Congress.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 27, 2019 08:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).