The Hindu : Other States / Jammu & Kashmir News : Long queues outside booths in Baramulla, Sopore

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Sunday, Jan 30, 2005

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Long queues outside booths in Baramulla, Sopore

By Shujaat Bukhari

Voters waiting outside a polling booth in Handwara in North Kashmir on Saturday. Civic elections were held after 27 years in the State. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

BARAMULLA/ HANDWARA, JAN. 29. Long queues were seen outside the booths in Baramulla and Sopore today during the first phase of civic elections. The towns in the past have seen a near-total boycott of Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. There was not a single complaint of coercion or intimidation by the police or security forces in any part of north Kashmir this reporter visited. The refrain was that the voters were coming willingly as many of them believe that these elections, meant for upgrading the basic amenities,could not be ignored. Interestingly, the candidates were not provided security as there were too many. The people were aware of last evening's militant attacks in Pampore and Sopore in which one candidate was killed and two others injured.

At the Sherwani Colony booth in Baramulla, 155 out of 695 votes had been polled at 12 noon. ``We know that there is a boycott call. But if we do not take care of our basic needs, who will do so. We are voting,'' said Jagtar Singh. However, some of the booths in the town witnessed very low polling.

At the Janbazpora booth, the rush of voters was so high that even a magistrate and the Station House Officer of the area found it difficult to enter it.

Handwara town, which used to be the stronghold of the People's Conference headed by Sajjad Lone, also witnessed a keen fight. Though Mr. Sajjad fielded the present Minister of Forests, Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi, as a proxy candidate in the 2002 Assembly polls, both fell apart and fielded their own candidates. People in large numbers came out to vote and Mr. Sofi's People's Democratic Forum went ahead with a clear majority.

High turnout in Sopore

In Sopore, which used to be the hub of militancy, the trend was surprising. Without any complaint of coercion, the turnout was high by all means. As against the total boycott in previous elections, 26 per cent people cast their votes. ``We know these elections are for solving the problems of the people and not for resolving Kashmir issue,'' said young Hameeda.

Candidates for the Kunzer municipal committee were declared elected unopposed as there were only five nominations for as many seats, raising the number of those elected unopposed to 21.

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