J&K witnesses 75% polling in phase 7
CLASHES IN POONCH 84% turnout recorded in Jammu division, 30.3% polling in Kashmir
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Defying separatists’ diktats yet again, people turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote during the seventh phase of the panchayat elections held on Tuesday, in 12 districts, six each from Kashmir and Jammu regions.
According to chief electoral officer Shaleen Kabra, the state witnessed an overall 75.3% voter turnout during phase 7, with Jammu division recording 84.8% turnout as compared to 30.3% in Kashmir division.
The polling began at 8am and ended at 2 pm. More than 5,550 candidates were in fray for 341 sarpanch seats and 1,798 panch seats in this phase.The voting was held in 2,714 polling stations across the state, including 576 in Kashmir division and 2,138 in Jammu division.
Kabra said that Bandipora witnessed 25.2% polling, Kupwara 45%, Baramulla 17.8%, Ganderbal 30.9%, Budgam 13.1%, Anantnag 15.5%, Ramban 83%, Reasi 86.7%, Samba 85.5%, Jammu 83.7%, Rajouri 84% and Poonch 86.6%.
Voting in the six districts of Kashmir division during this phase recorded dismal participation of 13% in central Kashmir’s Budgam, while the highest 45% was recorded in northern district of Kupwara.
Kabra said in phase 1 of panchayat polls held on November 17, 74.1% polling was recorded across J&K including 64.5% in Kashmir division and 79.4% in Jammu division. In phase 2 of the elections on November 20, overall 71.1% polling was witnessed across the state with 80.4% polling in Jammu division and 52.2% in Kashmir division. In phase-3, 75.2% polling was witnessed including 55.7% in Kashmir division and 83.0% in Jammu division and in phase-4, the state witnessed 71.3% polling with 82.4% in Jammu division and 32.3% in Kashmir division.
An overall poll percentage of 71.1% was witnessed across the state in phase 5, with 85.2% polling in Jammu division and 33.7% in Kashmir division. In phase 6, 76.9% polling was recorded across the state, including 17.3% in Kashmir division and 84.6% in Jammu division.
NINE INJURED AS RIVAL GROUPS CLASH
At least nine people were injured in six polling stations of Mendhar sub-division in Poonch district, following clashes between rival groups in alleged attempts of booth capturing, a charge outrightly denied by the Poonch deputy commissioner Rahul Yadav.
An incident of stone pelting was also reported at a polling station in Gursai area of Poonch.
Yadav said, “We acted promptly and controlled the situation. There were 352 polling stations in the district, out of which minor clashes took place in two to four polling stations. Following claims and counterclaims, we have recommended re-poll in two polling booths of a panchayat. There were no attempts of booth capturing. Some people might have sustained superficial injuries in the scuffle.”
Meanwhile, senior citizens again reposed their faith in the grass-root level democracy, with 105-year-old Rano Devi, a resident of Badheri village in Samba district and Haji Akbar, who claimed himself to be 124-yearold, from Ari village in Mendhar block of Poonch district, coming out to cast their votes in phase 7 of the polls.
The nine-phased elections in the state, which started on November 17 will end by December 11.
Unlike the municipal polls, the panchayat elections are being held on a non-party basis.
While separatists have called for a boycott of the elections, the state’s two biggest political parties, the National Conference and the Peoples’ Democratic Party, have also abstained from the election process, citing an “atmosphere of fear” and “lack of clarity” surrounding the Centre’s stand on legal challenges in the Supreme Court to J&K’s special status.