The first day of Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir, passed off peacefully. Grassroot elections are being held in the state after 24 years. Despite a boycott called by the Hurriyat Conference, voters thronged polling stations in large numbers. And barring few skirmishes, no major incident of violence was reported.
Four blocks of the frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir went to polls, on Monday, in the elections of Panchayats amid tight security arrangements.
The polling in Karnah, Tangdhar, Keran and Teetwal blocks, lying close to the Line of Control, began at 0900 hours and was proceeding peacefully, Deputy Commissioner (Kupwara) and Election Officer, Haq Nawaz, told.
He said that the authorities had set up 114 polling stations manned by over 500 officers for the smooth conduct of the polls, which are being held in the state after a gap of over 23 years.
Nawaz termed the security arrangements as ‘Sufficient’ and said the security forces took positions well in advance outside the polling stations to instill confidence among the voters. Over five lakh voters in Kupwara, Rajouri and Poonch are exercising their franchise in the first phase of Panchayat elections in the state.
“They will decide the fate of 1,667 candidates in 125 Panchayats of these districts,” official sources said.
Bureau Report