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Mukhtar Ahmad in Anantnag
Polling in the two militancy-infested districts of Pulwama and Anantnag was marked by low voter turnout on Tuesday. This correspondent visited several areas in the two districts and found many polling booths deserted.
"I have been idling for a long time, there are no voters," said Irfan Ali, the presiding officer of the polling station in Hanfiya Institute in Lal Chowk, Anantnag.
"I am tired of carrying this bulletproof jacket and the baggage. I want to hand over this baggage to state officials as soon as possible... Only 24 out of 838 voters came here to exercise their franchise," said Ali, as he prepared to pack and seal the electronic voting machine.
His colleague, Mohammed Shamim Ansari, looked a bit relaxed and was eager to return to Srinagar for his onward journey to Kanpur. "We will deposit the EVM and then prepare to leave the valley. The polling percentage was very low here," he said.
In Kadalbal in Pampore town of Pulwama, dozens of people had lined up to vote. "I am voting willingly. We are voting for our neighbour. He is the candidate of the ruling National Conference," said one Abdul Rashid.
However, in other booths of the saffron-rich Pampore, the polling staff was relaxed. In Bejibagh and Pinglina villages, people said they were boycotting the elections.
"There were just two votes in one polling booth and four in another," said a poll official in Pinglina.
Pulwama town was shut and only a few youths were visible in the main chowk. However, in polling booth no 39-C, a few dozen people had lined up to exercise their franchise.
On the road to Shopian segment, there were a few villagers visiting the booths. The atmosphere was tense, as militants had attacked the vehicle of the sub-divisional police officer with a hand grenade, but he escaped.
Many youths complained that security forces were coercing people to vote.
In the polling booth located inside the town hall building, polling officials said of the 1130 voters, only 42 came. In a nearby polling station, only 81 out of 1119 voters had exercised their franchise.
Bejibehara town in Anantnag was deserted. The polling booths located here wore a deserted look. Presiding officer Raees Ahmad said, "I am still waiting for the voters. Not a single voter came to this polling booth. The situation is nearly the same in eight adjoining polling stations."
A polling agent of the People's Democratic Party, headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, said "The low voter turnout in this constituency has made our task difficult. It will help the ruling party [National Conference]."
The health resort of Pahalgam witnessed brisk polling in the morning. PDP vice-president Mehbooba Mufti, who was camping in Pahalgam for several days, had an edge over her NC rival.
Scores of people held a demonstration in Pulwama's Tral town, alleging that security forces were forcing them to vote.
In Anantnag town, only a few came to vote. In one booth, Mohammad Nayeem, a polling officer from Uttar Pradesh, said, "Only eleven people -- nine men and two women -- cast their vote."
At the end of the day Nayeem heaved a sigh of relief. He thanked Allah and said, "Finally the [third phase of] polls have drawn to a close. I have done my duty. It is time to pack my bulletproof gear, seal the EVM and hand over the baggage to the poll authority. If my journey to Kashmir had anxious moments, the journey back home is going to be joyful."
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