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| Voting percentage dismal in Pulwama, low in Shopian; moderate in Anantnag, Kulgam | | Poll official gets killed as militants attack polling party at Nagbal in Shopian | | Jehangir Rashid/Mustansir
SRINAGAR, Apr 24: Killing of three persons including a Sarpanch on the night of April 21 at Tral virtually led to dismal polling in the Pulwama district as the voting for the Anantnag Lok Sabha culminated in the evening today.
The polling percentage turned out to be moderate in Anantnag and Kulgam districts and low in Shopian. While Anantnag recorded the poll percentage of 37.76, Kulgam recorded the poll percentage of 36.68. In Shopian 20.43 percent people exercised their franchise with Pulwama recording the dismal poll percentage of 6.32 percent.
In the meantime, a polling official got killed after militants attacked a poll party as they were returning after performing their duty. The incident occurred in the Nagbal village of Shopian area in the evening. The area has been cordoned off by police and security forces to nab the militants who carried out the attack.
The voting started on a dull note in all the four districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian that constitute the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat. In districts like Anantnag and Kulgam the polling percentage picked up as the day passed by. In the Shopian district the pace was not up to the mark and as far as Pulwama is concerned it remained dismal throughout the day.
It would be in place to mention here that Hizbul Mujahideen had issued posters in the vulnerable areas of South Kashmir asking people to remain aloof from the electoral process. At the same time the anti-election campaign carried out by separatist organizations also showed its impact in pockets of the four districts. This was more visible in Pulwama and Shopian districts.
Protests broke out in some parts of the districts with people fighting pitched battles with police and security forces. Police and security forces personnel resorted to lathi-charge and fired smoke shells on protesters mostly in the Pulwama district.
In the Koil village police and security forces resorted to aerial firing after they failed to disperse a group of people who were protesting against the electoral process. The protesters raised slogans against the elections and termed them as 'farce'. The protesters enforced poll boycott in the area with the situation turning out to be tense during the entire course of day.
A group of protesters carried out attack on leaders of mainstream parties National Conference and People’s Democratic Party as well. Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri and Showkat Gayoor of NC and PDP were attacked by an angry group of people in the Ratnipora village of the Pulwama district. The protesters hurled stones on both leaders before being whisked away by police and security forces. In the Kulgam area a vehicle of press photographer was smashed by the police personnel.
In the evening as the polling staff was returning militants carried out an attack one such party in the Nagbal village of Shopian district. One polling official got killed in the militant attack with injuries to five others.
A police spokesman said that in evening militants near Handew, Nagbal on Shopian-Zainapora road fired upon a bus carrying polling staff and security personnel. The spokesman said that one polling officer namely Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq of Herpora, Shopian was killed.
The spokesman said that another polling staff member Zubair Ahmad Indrabi of Shopian, two CRPF personnel of 144 BN namely Sanjay Kumar and Vijay Kumar, one Policeman HC Ghulam Nabi and driver of the bus Manzoor Ahmad of Tral received bullet injuries. He said the injured were evacuated to hospital.
A senior police official told reporters this evening that a polling official was killed while five others critically injured after suspected militants opened fire on them at Nagbal area of Shopian district this evening when they were being ferried back after performing their duties during the day. The police official said that soon after the incident police and security forces cordoned off the area and started search operation to nab the militants.
Meanwhile, Government forces attacked more than five journalist in different incidents during the day when they were covering the polling in South Kashmir. Reports said vehicle of photo journalist, Farooq Javed Khan while covering the election in Kulgam area of south Kashmir.
Other Journalists who were attacked in the clash include Naseer A Ganai and Javed Ahmad Dar of Mail Today, Associated Press (AP) photographer Mukhtiyar Khan, AFP Photographer Touseef Mustafa, Rising Kashmir reporter Manzoor-ul-Hassan and Faisul Yaseen and Fayaz Wani Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir range A G Mir, said he will look into the matter.
Reports said Government forces attacked a group of journalists covering the Parliamentary elections. Dar received injures after being hit by the forces. |
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