Most residents in Nutnusa block in northern Kupwara district which went to polls in the final phase of panchayat elections Tuesday came out to vote “to see development in the area.”
The block, located eight kilometers from Kupwara town, falls along the Srinagar-Kupwara highway and shuts on every call of the Joint Resistance Leadership. However, on Tuesday, most residents thronged polling booths.
“This area witnesses stone-pelting during every day of shutdown called by separatists, but today we came forward to vote to see development in our area,” said Mustufa Ahmad, a resident of Nutnusa.
The last phase of panchayat election was held peacefully Tuesday in three blocks of Kupwara district, including Drugmulla, Nutnusa and Magam, amid tight security.
Dozens of residents from Pir Mohalla in Drugmulla came forward in the last hour of voting to cast their vote.
“I voted to elect a sarpanch from my mohalla so that he works for the betterment of the village,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a resident of Pir Mohalla.
People rushed to polling stations in the morning hours to cast their vote.
“We cast our vote for development. We are sure our sarpanch will develop our area,” a group of young boys said at Bandpora.
In Kawari area, tight security arrangements were made to ensure smooth polls.
“We kept a close watch on the situation because we had reports that some people may create some trouble. But elders in this locality helped us to conduct the election peacefully,” said in-charge Kawari police station.
The total percentage recorded across the three blocks was 53.61 at the end of the polling time, an election official said.
The turnout in Drugmulla was 50.34 percent, 50.67 percent in Magam and 66.24 percent in Nutnusa, he said.