Student killed, dozen injured in post-poll clashes
Fayaz Bukhari
BARAMULLA, Apr 11: Amid stray incidents of violence in which a student was killed and around a dozen persons were injured including two policemen as North Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency voted today which was by and large peaceful with huge voter turnout recorded in some areas while in others there was low turnout to total boycott in certain pockets.
A 7th standard student was killed this evening in clashes with the security forces that broke out after the voting ended in Langate area of Kupwara district of Baramulla Parliamentary constituency.
A group of youth took to streets in Mandigam village of Langate and pelted stones on security forces who were on poll duty. The security forces fired tear gas, followed by pellets triggering clashes during which a boy Owais Ahmad Mir, 13, resident of Mandigam was killed.
The boy had received pellet injuries and was declared brought dead at the Handwara District hospital. Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances in which the boy was killed.
The clashes were going on till last reports came in and in Langate town a poll staff and two cops on security duty were injured when their vehicle that was returning from a Polling Station came under stone pelting this evening.
And as the polling started this morning at 7, with brisk note at few places as long queues of voters were seen eager to cast their votes mostly in Uri, Handwara, Langate, Kupwara, Karnah , Gulmarg, Gurez and Pattan areas of the constituency while in other areas the voting was low key affair.
In Pahlipora Boniyar in Uri Assembly segment of the constituency people were in queues since morning eager to cast their vote. They included men, women and first time voters. There were some first time voters who were eager to cast their ballot.
In Kralpora area of Kupwara, first time voter Farooq Ahmad was eager to cast his vote. “I voted for a competent person who has leadership qualities and can talk about the suffering of our people in Parliament. We are witnessing Highway restrictions, tinkering to special status of the State and killings. I voted for him as he can raise these issues and end our miseries”, he said.
Mohammad Fareed at Karnah said over phone that he voted for development of the area. “My purpose to vote is bring some relief to the people of the area that remains cut off from rest of the world for half of the year. I want that our representative should press for a tunnel at Sadna so that we remain connected during the winter as well”, he said.
However, some areas witnessed low voter turnout where the poll staff had long wait for voters. In
Brath village in Sopore town of Baramulla district and Bab-gund village in Handwara town of Kupwara district only few votes were polled.
In Brath village not a single vote was cast out of 830 votes till the afternoon. The poll staff was basking in the sun throughout the day with Police and CRPF keeping vigil so that the Polling Stations may not get targeted.
Not a single vote was cast till 6 pm in villages of Dooru, Reshiabad, Yamberzal Payeen, Yadipora and Jageer in Sopore area of the constituency.
People also stayed away from election process at a number of areas in lower belt of Rafiabad including Ferozpora, Drusu, Saidpora, Parraypora recorded zero percent votes. In Hajjin area of Bandipora, only 61 votes were polled out of 8171.
The highest percentage of Polling was witnessed in border area of Handwara and lowest from Sopore constituency.
Out of 83,713 votes in Uri Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 47, 722 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 57.01.
Out of 84,809 votes in Rafiabad Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 9, 9972 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 11.76.
Out of 1, 11, 928 votes in Sopore Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 4,864 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 4.35.
Out of 70,984 votes in Sangrama Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 9,726 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 13.70.
Out of 87, 825 votes in Baramulla Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 14, 075 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 16.03.
Out of 1,01,778 votes in Gulmarg Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 34071 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 33.48.
Out of 95,464 votes in Pattan Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 32, 689 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 33.89.
Out of 37,181 votes in Karnah Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 21974 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 59.10.
Out of 117530 votes in Kupwara Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 68, 969 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 58.68.
Out of 111557 votes in Lolab Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 50, 499 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 45.27.
Out of 98,608 votes in Handwara Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 59, 428 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 60.27.
Out of 76,199 votes in Langate Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 27, 064 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 35.22.
Out of 19,232 votes in Gurez Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 7293cvotes were polled with the poll percentage of 37.92.
Out of 1,08,538 votes in Bandipora Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 23, 319 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 21.48.
Out of 1,05,802 votes in Sonawari Assembly segment of Baramulla constituency, 43, 735 votes were polled with the poll percentage of 41.34.
Life in Kashmir was disrupted today due to a strike called by separatists to protest against polling for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the Valley and NIA action against Hurriyat Conference leaders and their kin.
Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed due to the strike while attendance in government and private offices was thin.
Public transport remained off the roads in most parts of the valley but some private vehicles could be seen plying on the roads in the city.
Appealing people to stay away from Lok Sabha polls, separatists said that shutdown will be observed in areas which are going to polls in the Valley in subsequent phases of the elections.
The candidates whose fate has been sealed in the voting machines included Muhammad Akbar Lone of National Conference, Farooq Ahmad Mir of Congress, Raja Aijaz Ali of People’s Conference, Mohammad Maqbool War of BJP, Jahangir Khan of NPP, Abdul Qayoom Wani of PDP, Engineer Rasheed of Awami Itihaad Party and independent candidates Javid Ahmad Qureshi and Syed Najeeb Shah Naqvi.
The voting machines are being brought to Degree College Baramulla where they will be kept in a strong room under high security till the counting takes place next month.
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