Bumper voting in 3 seats on LoC in Poonch, Rajouri
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 13: Huge turnout of 68.5 was recorded in sixth phase of the District Development Council (DDC) elections in 17 seats spread over nine districts of Jammu region today which remained peaceful barring stray incidents of complaints and verbal duel among supporters of rival candidates.
Significantly, voting was highest at 76.7 percent in Balakote Territorial Constituency of Poonch, 74 at Nowshera seat and 74.1 in Doongi segment in Rajouri district, all three of which fall along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and were regularly being pounded by mortar shelling and firing by the enemy troops.
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However, the voting today remained peaceful in all the three seats as there was no ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops in any forward areas which witnessed polling.
Long queues of voters were seen at almost all polling stations located along LoC including Sher Makri, Jhanghar, Kalsian, Bhawani and Lam Pukharni in Nowshera constituency, Naika Panjgrain and Rattal Basali in Doongi segment, both in Rajouri district and Dharati, Tarkundi and Brooti among others in Balakote seat of Poonch district.
Administration in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri had put Contingency Plan in place in case of shelling or firing from across the LoC as there were dozens of polling booths which fell within firing range of Pakistan. Some of the polling stations were even located ahead of the fencing.
Pakistan army had last night fired mortar shells and bullets in parts of Balakote constituency to scare the people from voting but people bravely turned out in large numbers to cast their votes in Nowshera, Doongi and Balakote seats. Even women and elderly people showed no fears of ceasefire violations from Pakistan and waited for hours in queues to cast their votes.
“We aren’t worried about Pakistan shelling and firing. Our brave Army soldiers are standing on the LoC to defend us. We will exercise our democratic right to vote while our troops will guard the borders,” said a jubilant Asrar Khan while casting his vote at Dharati polling station.
Undeterred by the threat of shelling or firing, a woman Naseema Bi said at Brooti polling station: “We will vote and elect representative of our choice. We are not afraid of Pakistan’s misadventures. Our Army is there on the LoC to thwart nefarious designs of Pakistan”.
Situation was also good in Tarkundi where voters said they waited for two hours to cast their vote unmindful of Pakistan’s firing.
“Today, there was no firing and shelling. Pakistan army is afraid that if they violate ceasefire on the day of polling, the Indian Army will not spare and teach them a lesson. Pakistanis are coward. They only target civilian areas,” said young and first-time voter Javed Choudhary at Tarkundi polling station which is located right on the LoC.
In Sher Makri area of Nowshera seat, a woman Toshi Devi said she stood in queue for one and half hour to cast vote. Sher Makri is frequently hit by mortar shelling from Pakistani side but for the past few days the LoC in Nowshera sector has been peaceful because of heavy losses suffered by the Pakistan army in Indian retaliation.
In Naika Panjgrain area of Doongi seat, the people had no fears on their faces and stood in queues bravely to cast votes.
Poonch district today recorded highest voting percentage of 76.7 and Kathua the minimum of 60.9 in Jammu region. Voting in other districts was Rajouri (74.03), Reasi (74.02), Udhampur (72.04), Ramban (71.34), Samba (70.01), Jammu (66.32) and Doda (62.93).
Overall voting percentage in Jammu region stood at 68.5 and in Jammu and Kashmir at 51.5.
In first phase of the DDC elections, the turnout in Jammu region was 64 percent, which went up to 65.5 percent in second phase, 68.8 in third and 69.3 in fourth before coming down to 66.6 in fifth. It again rose to 68.5 in the sixth phase today.
Seventeen Territorial constituencies which went to polling today include Doda Ghat and Chiralla in Doda district, Sangaldan and Gandhari (Ramban), Pouni and Pouni-A (Reasi), Jaganoo and Udhampur-I (Udhampur), Barnoti and Hiranagar (Kathua), Rajpura and Ramgarh-C (Samba), Arnia and Bishnah (Jammu), Nowshera and Doongi (Rajouri) and Balakote (Poonch). There was no voting in Kishtwar district today.
Speaking to reporters this evening, State Election Commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma said overall polling percentage for Phase-VI today was quite healthy at 51.51.
He said the polling was peaceful in all 31 DDC constituencies including 14 in Kashmir division and 17 in Jammu and people participated enthusiastically despite severe cold conditions in Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu.
A total of 2.76 lakh votes were polled in Jammu region in the sixth phase today including 1.46 lakh male and 1.3 lakh females.
There were 121 candidates in the fray for 17 seats of Jammu region for which the State Election Commission had set up 863 polling stations.
Simultaneously, by-polls for vacancies of Sarpanchs and Panchs were also held in the Jammu region today. Counting of votes for Sarpanch and Panch seats was taken up immediately after the polling and majority of results were declared tonight.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Poonch Rahul Yadav today ordered suspension of three members of a polling party of Manjakote station for leaking the ballot papers in advance which were also circulated on social media.
The suspended officials were Gulzar Ahmad, Master HSS Gunhal Surankote, Asif Iqbal, teacher GMS Harni Gallian and Mohammad Yusuf, Junior Assistant HS Kalal.
4.33% migrants cast votes
Three hundred and ten migrants cast their votes for 14 DDC constituencies of Kashmir valley at 14 special polling booths each at Jammu and Udhampur districts in the sixth phase of elections today.
As per official sources, the authorities had received 7149 ballot papers for migrants at the respective polling booths and out of them only 310 turned up for casting their vote taking the percentage to 4.33 percent. Sources however, said as this year the State Election Commission had kept the postal ballot option also open for migrants voting and many displaced voters had opted for the postal ballot as going to polling booths in GDC for Women at Gandhi Nagar was not possible for the migrants putting up at Jagti township, Nagrota camp, Purkhoo and other camps.
Giving details, ARO Migrants, Anushman Singh said that 300 votes were polled on 14 booths of 14 DDC constituencies in Kashmir valley including DDC constituencies of Baramulla and Rohama in district Baramulla, Pahloo in district Kulgam, Achabal and Breng in district Anantnag, Newa in district Pulwama, Natnussa in district Kupwara, Chadoora and Nagam in district Budgam, Bandipora -A and Bandipora -B in district Bandipora, Imamsahib-Ist and Imamasahib II, in district Shopian and Safapora in district Ganderbal.
He said highest number of 105 migrant votes were polled for Natnussa in Kupwara district which was followed by 60 votes in Breng, Anantnag and 47 in Newa, Pulwama. He said 39 votes were polled in Achabal constituency of district Anantnag while nine votes were polled in Imamsahib II, in districtShopian. Besides eight votes each were polled for Rohama in district Baramulla, Pahloo in district Kupwara and Nagam in district Budgam. Four votes were polled for Baramulla constituency in district Baramulla and three in Imamsahib Ist in district Shopian. No voter turned out to cast their vote for Bandipora -A and Bandipora B in Bandipora district and Safapora in district Ganderbal.
He said 10 votes were polled for 14 DDC constituencies in Udhampur district where 14 special polling booths were opened in Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Udhampur.
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