Srinagar re-poll today

The re-polling in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar parliamentary constituency will be held amidst tight security arrangements on Thursday, officials have said.

J&K chief electoral officer Shantmanu said approximately 50 companies of policemen and paramilitary personnel – each comprising 75-80 personnel – will be deployed to guard the stations.

In Sunday’s Srinagar bypoll, 33 out of the 38 stations electronic voting machines were snatched and damaged, officials said while in the other five, zero polling was reported. The voter turnout in Srinagar constituency was 7.14% — the lowest in three decades — and eight civilians were killed in ensuing clashes.

Sanjay Kumar, deputy inspec- tor general of the CRPF, Srinagar (south) said, “Security arrangements will be amply done for tomorrow (Thursday) and things should go peacefully.” He promised security to the voters and appealed to them to come forward and cast their votes without being scared of stone-pelters.

Meanwhile, the National Conference on Wednesday met the state’s chief electoral officer and put on record serious apprehensions and concerns about the subversion of the electoral process by the ruling dispensation ahead of the re-poll. The party has sought safeguard measures so that any attempt by the ruling dispensation to disrupt electoral proper process is thwarted, a spokesperson said.

On the other hand, the Valley’s joint separatist leadership has called for shutdown in the re-poll areas. “We hope people will reject this drama once again and boycott these elections with same spirit as witnessed on April 9, said, resistance leaders,” a statement issued said.

Moreover, seven independent candidates who contested the Srinagar seat on April 9, have called for a boycott of re-polling.

“Elections come and go but we cannot let our brothers be killed for polling. We appeal the people to not press our buttons on EVMs and boycott the polls. We support boycott now because they (government) took wrong decisions. We ask youth to stay at home so that no damage takes place,” Mirza Sajjad Hussain Beigh, one of the seven contenders, was quoted as saying by PTI.

On Wednesday, Kashmir re-opened after two days of shutdown. However, mobile internet services continue to remain snapped for the last three days.