Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 28: Security has been intensified in Kulgam district of Anantnag Parliamentary constituency that is going to vote tomorrow as the poll parties were this afternoon dispatched to respective polling stations amid tight security.
Seventy six additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed for the security of the poll staff and polling stations across the district. The polls in Anantnag seat are being held in three phases due to security reasons. The first phase of the polls was held last week and the third phase is on May 6 in Pulwama and Shopian districts.
Amid tight security, police fired in air to disperse a group of youth who were pelting stones at polling station Mirwani in Kulgam district. Sources said that the militants also hurled a grenade towards the polling station but there was no damage.
Police also fired in Tarigam village in Kulgam district after a group of youth targeted the polling station with stones. The stone pelting was also reported from Kilam, Khudwani and Ashmuji in Kulgam district.
The stone pelting has been also reported from many areas of the district and police is firing teargas to chase them away.
The polling stations in Bhan Tulinowpora, Motalhama, Qoimoh, Redwani and Khudwani villages have been shifted to safer places for security reasons.
The train service between Srinagar and Banihal that passes through Kulgam district has been suspended tomorrow for security reasons.
This afternoon under tight security 433 polling parties, comprising of 1732 polling personnel and 62 Micro-Observers, along with poll material, EVMs/VVPAT machines were dispatched for different polling stations of four Assembly constituencies of Noorabad, Kulgam Homshalibug and Devsar of the district Kulgam.
District Election Officer (DEO), Kulgam Dr Shameem Ahmad Wani said that a total of 1732 polling personnels have been dispatched for all polling stations of all four Assembly constituencies of district today for smooth conduct of elections.
The South Kashmir district has 345,486 electors including 179,607 males, 164,604 females, 1262 service electors (1254 male and 08 female) and 13 transgender voters.
The candidates in the fray are Hasnain Masoodi of National Conference, Sofi Yousuf of Bharatiya Janata Party, Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Indian National Congress, Mehbooba Mufti of People’s Democratic Party, Nisar Ahmad Wani of National Panthers Party, Choudhary Zaffar Ali of People’s Conference, Sanjay Kumar Dhar of Manav Adhikar Party, Surinder Singh of Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) and Imtiyaz Ahmad Rather, Ridwana Sanam, Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, Zubair Masoodi, Shams Khwaja, Ali Mohammad Wani, Gh Mohammad Wani, Kyasir Ahmed Sheikh, Manzoor Ahmad Khan and Mirza Sajad Hussain Beigh, all Independents.
Kulgam Assembly segment has the highest number of 98,298 voters (51,051 males, 46,818 females, 455 service voters and 4 transgender voters) while as Noorabad has the lowest 77,171 electors, including 40,093 males, 36,886 females, 188 service voters and 4 transgender voters.
Assembly segment of Devsar has 91288 voters (47467 males, 43324 females, 492 service voters and five transgender voters), and HS Bug segment has 78669 voters (40996 males, 37576 females and 127 service voters).
The voting timing has been fixed from 7 am to 4 pm in the district instead of 7 am to 6 pm due to security reasons.
A police spokesman said here that no grenade attack incident has happened in Kulgam.
“Citizens are requested not to pay heed to rumours. Legal action will be initiated against those propagating rumours”, he added.
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