Srinagar: A total of 2.16% polling was reported in twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian in South Kashmir that went to poll on Monday.
Voting started at a dismal note as people stayed away from the polling booth despite massive security arrangements across Pulwama and Shopian. The two districts had 522530 electors. They had to elect their representative for the Lok Sabha in a contest that is widely being seen as a triangular one between PDP, Congress and the NC.
Clashes erupted in number of areas in twin district of Shopian and Pulwama. At a Khrew polling station, PDP supporters alleged that their polling agent was ruthlessly beaten up the workers of National Conference. PDP supporters alleged that NC workers not only thrashed their polling agent but also snatched his cell phone. They staged a protest inside the polling station and demanded re-election.
A grenade was lobbed at a polling station at Rohmu village of Pulwama district while unidentified persons hurled a petrol bomb at a polling station at BhatnorTral area. At Chatpora Pulwama, suspected militants hurled a grenade that exploded with a bang. Stone pelting incidents were reported from Batgund and Panzu Tral. In Tiken village of Pulwama also, a grenade was lobbed that didn’t explode. Massive clashes erupted in Naman Kakapora between protesters and government forces while at Sambora Pampore, Forces resorted to aerial firing to disperse youth protesting against the election process. Clashes also erupted in Muran area of Pulwama.
Unidentified persons hurled a petrol bomb at a polling station located at Boys Higher Secondary School Shopian.
A complete shutdown was observed in both the districts. All shops and business establishments remained shut while public and private transport remained off the roads. Brisk polling was reported in Khrew, Pampore, and some parts of Shopian, however, most of the polling station wore a deserted look. People cast their vote in scattered manner at different polling stations in both Pulwama and Shopian. Hardly any voters approached the polling stations in Shopian, Wachi, Rajpora, Pulwama and Tral segments of South Kashmir’s Parliament seat.
Pulwama witnessed the lowest turnout with the total 0.64 per cent, followed by Tral with 0.93 per cent.The highest turnout was reported in Pampore with 4.65 per cent, followed by Raj pora with the total of 1.59 per cent.
In Shopian 3.90 per cent, while in Wachi with 1.37 per cent voters cast their votes out of 171216 votes were reported.
Rajpora Assembly segment had the highest number of 95,633 electors including 49,808 males, 45,738 females and 87 male service voters while as Pampore has the lowest 82,188 electors, including 41,929 males, 40,230 females, 24 male service voters and five transgender voters.
Tral assembly segment had 88,617 electors 45,637 males, 42, 650 females, 329 service voters (324 male and 5 female) and single transgender voter.
Pulwama assembly segment had 84,876 electors, including 43885 males, 40,890 females and 101 service voters (98 male and three females).
Similarly, Shopian District had 171,216 electors including 89,868 males, 81,227 females, 116 service electors (113 male and 03 female) and five transgender voters. For smooth polling, the ECI has set up 245 polling stations across the district.
Wachi assembly segment had83,532 electors including 43,848 males, 39,614 females, 66 service voters (63 males and 3 females) and four transgender voters.
Shopian assembly segment had 87,684 electors, including 46,020 males, 41,613 females, 50 male service voters, and a single transgender voter.
The main candidates in the fray for this Parliamentary seat was Mehbooba Mufti of PDP, Hasnain Masoodi of National Conference and G.A Mir of Congress. (CNS)
