Weather, security dampener on J&K polls

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 5:11 am

Ignoring separatists’ boycott call and braving sub-zero temperature in many areas, nearly 39 per cent of over six lakh voters today exercised their franchise in the first phase of Assembly elections in ten constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday (November 17).

“An estimated 38.62 per cent voters cast their ballots in the 10 constituencies spread over four districts of Poonch, Bandipora, Leh and Kargil by 2 PM,” officials monitoring the polling said. Mendhar, Poonch and Surankote constituencies in the border district of Poonch registered the highest turnout of 60 per cent, 52 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.

The turnout in two constituencies of Kargil district – Kargil and Zanskar – recorded 35 per cent polling each while in Nobra and Leh segments in Leh district registered 36.21 and 32.6 per cent voting, respectively. The polling in Bandipora, Sonawari and Gurez constituencies in the Valley which has been hit by a cold wave after heavy snowfall started on a dull note but picked up as the day advanced.

The three constituencies recorded 25 per cent, 28 per cent and 43 per cent polling. The voters ignored the separatists call for boycott and as the day advanced, came out in large numbers to line up at polling booths. The voters in Zanskar and Kargil segments which recorded low temperature of minus 11 and minus four degrees Celsius, respectively, recorded 35 per cent voting till 2 PM.

Meanwhile, a curfew-like situation prevailed in Kashmir as authorities deployed thousands of security personnel to scuttle any attempt by separatists to march to Bandipora to disrupt the first phase of Assembly elections. Heavy deployment has been made in Srinagar and other major towns of the valley in view of a call — ‘Jehan election waha challo’ (where elections march there) — given by separatist co-ordination committee, spearheading the ongoing movement for right to self-determination, official sources said.

The police and paramilitary personnel were seen driving back people to their homes and patrolling the deserted streets to foil any attempt by separatists to assemble here for the long march. The separatists have rejected the elections and had called for protests on the elections days, besides a complete strike to draw the attention of the global community towards the Kashmir issue.

In view of strict restrictions imposed by the security forces and a general strike called by the separatists, all shops and business establishments, government offices, educational institutions, banks, courts and other semi-government institutions are closed.

All modes of transport are off the roads here and other parts of the valley, although transport was exempted from the purview of the strike, sources said. The residents complained that security personnel were not allowing them to come out of their houses as “curfew” has been imposed.

However, a police spokesman denied imposition of the curfew but said security forces have been given strict orders not to allow movement of four or more people together. There has been no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the valley so far, he said, adding the situation is well under control.

The coordination committee, which met on Sunday, appealed people to stay away from the election process in view of “crucial juncture of the freedom movement”. It also appealed people to march towards the headquarters of the districts to “sabotage the elections”. “People from other districts should head towards polling areas in buses, trucks and motorcycles to sabotage the elections,” the coordination committee had said.

In view of the threat, Bandipora district of North Kashmir was virtually sealed to foil any attempt by people from other districts to reach there. “All roads leading to Bandipora have been sealed with barbed and razor wires and barricades,” the sources said.

Several top separatist leaders, including chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, have been placed under house arrest since Wednesday. Senior Hurriyat leader Zaffar Akbar Bhat was arrested by the authorities from his office at Chanapora on the outskirts of the city yesterday. The residents complained that security personnel were not allowing them to come out of their houses as “curfew” has been imposed.

The coordination committee, which met here yesterday, appealed people to stay away from the election process in view of “crucial juncture of the freedom movement”. It also appealed people to march towards the headquarters of the districts to “sabotage the elections”.

“People from other districts should head towards polling areas in buses, trucks and motorcycles to sabotage the elections,” the coordination committee had said. In view of the threat, Bandipora district of North Kashmir was virtually sealed to foil any attempt by people from other districts to reach there. “All roads leading to Bandipora have been sealed with barbed and razor wires and barricades,” the sources said.

(With inputs from agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

Weather, security dampener on J&K polls

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