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More rural voters than urban ones in Kupwara, Baramulla
Kupwara, Sept 16: A strong anti-incumbency wave was seen in the north Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Baramulla, where, villagers far outnumbered their urban counterparts for casting their vote in the first phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir today.
Kupwara, Sept 16: A strong anti-incumbency wave was seen in the north Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Baramulla, where, villagers far outnumbered their urban counterparts for casting their vote in the first phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir today.
While there were long queues outside polling booths in rural areas, the ones in the towns wore a deserted look even as vigilant security forces defused an IED in Rafiabad constituency minutes after polling started in the morning. Over eight lakh voters were to decide the fate of 59 candidates in the two north Kashmir districts, which went to polls with three border districts today.
Though the voting started on a dull note in the villages of Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Pattan, it picked up by noon, whereas, the three major towns of Baramulla, Sopore and Sangrama wore a deserted look with residents staying indoors and shopkeepers downing their shutters.
"I know I should vote but I cannot. You know the reason," said several residents of Baramulla town and admitted that it was fear of gun-weilding militants which had kept them away from the booths.
The villagers were also excited about participating in the democratic exercise. "Though no one has done anything for us but I still want to vote as I want peace in the valley," Abdullah Sheikh of a village in Pattan said.
Bureau Report
While there were long queues outside polling booths in rural areas, the ones in the towns wore a deserted look even as vigilant security forces defused an IED in Rafiabad constituency minutes after polling started in the morning. Over eight lakh voters were to decide the fate of 59 candidates in the two north Kashmir districts, which went to polls with three border districts today.
Though the voting started on a dull note in the villages of Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Pattan, it picked up by noon, whereas, the three major towns of Baramulla, Sopore and Sangrama wore a deserted look with residents staying indoors and shopkeepers downing their shutters.
"I know I should vote but I cannot. You know the reason," said several residents of Baramulla town and admitted that it was fear of gun-weilding militants which had kept them away from the booths.
The villagers were also excited about participating in the democratic exercise. "Though no one has done anything for us but I still want to vote as I want peace in the valley," Abdullah Sheikh of a village in Pattan said.
Bureau Report