SRINAGAR : Polling, which began on a very dull note on Thursday, started picking up barring in the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency (PC), spread over three central Kashmir districts of Srinagar, Badgam and Ganderbal, where over 12.95 lakh voters are eligible to vote exercise their democratic right to elect their representatives from among the 12 candidates, including former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah seeking re-election.
The first phase of polling in Baramulla PC on April 11 remained by and large peaceful barring an incident in which a minor was killed in security force action on demonstrators when poll parties were leaving after the polling.
Unprecedented security arrangements had been made to instill confidence among the voters to come out and cast their ballots following boycott and strike called by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL). The authorities have suspended mobile internet service in the constituency as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours.
Polling began at 0700 hrs at all the polling stations across the PC spread in 15 Assembly segments on a very dull note and will conclude at 1800 hrs. However, authorities express hope that polling will pick up as the day progress.
Majority of the polling stations in civil lines, down town and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) has yet to see first voter since the polling began. However, in uptown some voters, including women, could be seen marching towards polling stations to exercise their franchise. A number of women voters were first to cast their votes in Burn Hall school in Sonawar area, where Dr Abdullah and his other family members are scheduled to cast their votes.
However, the situation in Ganderbal and Badgam was entirely different as voters were seen casting their votes. Main towns in both the districts saw so far very poor response. Ganderbal and Badgam district which are part of Srinagar PC witness heavy to very heavy polling in the past.
In Phakir Gujri, a Gujjar dominated area witness long queues of voters since early this morning.
An official spokesman said that Badgam district recorded 1.6 per cent polling during the first two hours. It was 1.2 per cent polling in Ganderbal while Srinagar recorded just 0.9 per cent till 0900 hrs.
(AGENCIES)
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