Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar Dec 2: Defying the separatist poll boycott call, people in large numbers today came out in Kashmir valley to vote in the second phase of polling that was held in nine constituency of Kashmir valley.
However, barring Noorabad in South Kashmir where National Conference leader, Sakina Yatoo and Langate where independent candidate Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh are seeking re-election, polling percentage has declined as compared to 2008 elections.
In Noorabad assembly constituency 77.60 percent votes were polled today while in 2008 the poll percentage of the constituency was 74.29 and in Langate 71 per cent people cast their ballot while in 2008 poll percentage in the constituency was 61.34.
In Handwara town where NC candidate, Choudhray Mohammad Ramzan, PC candidate Sajjad Lone and PDP candidate Ghulam Mohidin Sofi are in fray cast their ballot in High School Handwara polling Station. Long queues of voters were jostling for their turn. Nisar Ahmad, a first time voter said that he is voting for change.
In the native village of Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, JKLF founder who was hanged in Tihar Jail on Feberuary 11, 1984 people voted for change and there was no impact of poll boycott. There are around 5000 registered voters and majority of them said that the legislator of the area ignored them for past 12 years. However, people of Maqbool Abad locality mostly stayed away from polls.
In village Kunanposhpora where a group of women were allegedly raped in 1990, poll officials halted the voting process after a group of women, men and children protested outside Polling Station Kunanposhpora seeking punishment for the rape accused security force personnel. However, senior police official rushed to the spot and women dispersed peacefully and polling was resumed.
In South Kashmir’s Bugam village not a single vote was polled as people alleged discrimination on development front. In Bugam village out of over 3300 votes in four polling Station not a single vote was polled. In adjacent Panivah village only one vote was polled as people stayed away from poll process alleging neglect.
“We are not casting our vote to protest against discrimination on developmental front against in our area,” said Javed Ahmad of Bugam village.
Ahmad said that nearby Balosa was granted a new administrative unit while Bugam was ignored. He said that Bugam has 15, 000 popolution while Balosa has only 4,000 population.
In some area like Arwani, Khudwani, Redwani, Qaimoh and Rampore, agitated youth who tried to block the vote clashed with Police and CRPF by pelting stones at them. Police charged batons and fired tear smoke shells to disperse them.
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