Low Voter Turnout in Kashmir Civic Polls, Reporters Attacked

The first phase of the civic body polls in Jammu and Kashmir saw a voter turnout of 8.3 per cent in the Valley, while the Jammu district saw a turnout of 63.83 per cent.

Rajouri district recorded the highest voter turnout of 81 per cent.

Day-to-day life remained affected in Kashmir following the strike call by the Joint Resistance Leadership. Shops and other business establishments were closed in Srinagar and other districts. As per reports, most of the polling booths were deserted in Srinagar and Budgam. However, a huge voter turnout was seen in Hamdania Colony Bemina in Srinagar.

After a gap of 13 years, voters came out to vote and elect their representatives to the state's 79 municipal bodies in the four-phased polls. Amid high security, the polling started at 7 am and ended at 4 pm.

 "Only 7,057 voters of the 84,692 eligible voters turned up to vote in the wards which went to polls on Monday. The polling was by and large peaceful," an official told PTI. 

In North Kashmir, Kupwara recorded a high voter turnout of 36.6 per cent, while 27.8 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise at wards of Handwara. Budgam recorded turnout of 17 per cent, while it was 7.3 per cent for Anantnag. The count was 5.7 per cent and 3.3 per cent for Baramulla and Bandipora respectively, with Bandipora recording the lowest turnout.

For Kargil and Leh, the turnout was 78 per cent and 52 per cent respectively. 

The first phase of the elections witnessed sparse incidents of violence in the Valley. According to sources, reporters were thrashed while they were capturing the visuals of the voters in Hamdania colony. A reporter told Newsclick, "All the voters were trying to escape the camera. Many voters threw stones at us."

Another incident of the stone-pelting was reported in Baghi Mehtab area of Srinagar. Just 400 m away from the polling station of Baghi Mehtab ward No 74, clashes between government forces and protesters took place.

A BJP candidate was injured when his car was attacked by stone-pelters in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Injured candidate, who was identified as Adil Ahmad Buhru, allegedly received minor injuries. Buhru, who is contesting the elections from ward no 15 was on his way to the polling booth when his vehicle came under attack.

A pregnant woman was also reportedly injured in Bandipora clashes and was immediately referred to SMHS hospital. Shabeena, 22, who is three months pregnant, sustained pellet injuries in chest, thighs and abdomen. In another incident, a 13 years old boy also sustained multiple pellet injuries. However, the doctors have said that their condition is stable.