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| Rajouri polls over 70%, | | Complaints of rigging, booth capturing in Darhal, PDP agent beaten to pulp, Presiding Officer slapped | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 23: Amidst allegations of rigging, booth capturing, clashes between activists of different political parties, the four constituencies of Rajouri district which went to polls today registered an average turnout of 73 per cent.
With sporadic complaints of strong arm tactics at a couple of places in Kalakote and Rajouri constituencies, the remote Darhal constituency of the district threw over a score of complaints of forcible domination of polling booths and cross voting which led to clashes at several places. Election agents of Peoples Democratic Party were beaten up at few polling stations in Darhal area by supporters of independent candidate Mohammad Iqbal Malik while at one of the polling stations the presiding officer was manhandled by unruly supporters of an independent candidate. Complaints of rigging have also been received from two polling stations of Kothra and Raiki Ban by supporters of National Conference candidate.
Chief Election Officer BR Sharma admitted that complaints of trouble were received for at least 19 polling stations in Darhal constituency but none of them was very serious. He said there was no major problem at any polling station anywhere in the district where re-polling could be required.
Barring these incidents, polling by and large remained peaceful and enthusiastic. As voting opened today morning in the four constituencies of Rajouri district, electors began queuing up outside polling booths in wee hours and by 10 a.m, over 20 per cent polling was recorded at most of the booths. And as the day progressed, the polling picked up pace and was brisk by midday when it crossed 50 per cent mark.
At some polling booths, women electors were more in number than their male counterparts. One woman, Bindra Devi, 105, was eagerly waiting for her turn at Sarial Chapper in Kalakote constituency. “I had come to cast my vote to be a part of the electoral exercise for choosing the right representative from Kalakote,” commented visibly-excited Devi. Yet at another polling station at Sunderbani, a physically-challenged 30-year-old Vijay Sharma was very enthusiastic compared to some of the other voters. He said that despite his disability, he is voting to set an example for those who don’t vote. At the same polling station, one Mr. Gareeb Das, 90, waiting for his turn, said that he has been exercising his franchise for the last five decades. He said that the poll process was more free, fair and transparent this time. A first-time voter at a polling station, set up at Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Sunderbani, 21-year-old Meenakshi Sharma, returning after casting her vote, said that it was a wonderful experience for her to have been a part of the Indian democracy, suggesting that every voter should use their right of franchise.
In Nowshera constituency, similar enthusiasm was witnessed with people coming out in droves to exercise their franchise. At Polling Station Nos.B-23 at B-24, set up in Tehsil Office, Nowshera, women electors matched their male counterparts and by 12 noon, out of 250 votes polled here, 121 were those of female voters.
At Thanamandi Polling Stations A & B, in Rajouri constituency, 33 per cent polling was recorded up till 12 noon. Till then, out of 1,810 votes, 600 voters had cast their votes, which included first-time voters like Sheeraz Hussain and Shahid Hussain. “We have voted for electing a representative that fulfills our aspirations, especially in strengthening the educational infrastructure in our area,” said Shahid.
At Polling Stations A, B & C, set up at Government Higher Secondary School in main Rajouri town, 63 per cent polling was recorded by 1 p.m. Out of 1,324 votes, 833 electors had exercised their right to vote. Of them was a 95-year-old Nazir Ahmad Khan, who voted at Polling Station A in Rajouri town.
Yet at another polling station, Husplote-A, in Thanamandi, Rajouri, up to 11 a.m, out of 734 votes, 201 votes had been polled which included 84 female voters. Similarly, at Polling Station Saaj, 40 per cent people had exercised their right to vote.
In Darhal constituency, at Polling Station Chawkyin, 50 per cent polling was recorded by 2 p.m. Rafia Begum, 90, commenting on the poll exercise said that she voted so that basic amenities of life are extended in her area for which she can go her elected representative. Similar comments were expressed by 98-year-old Karamatullah at the same polling station.
Polling Stations Dodaja, Hujan and Leeran in Darhal constituency also witnessed heavy rush of voters and the trend indicated 50 per cent polling by midday.
The polling in all the four constituencies of Rajouri district was incident free and concluded peacefully. The tentative figures indicate the overall vote percentage crossing 70% mark. |
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