During 2017 by-election to Srinagar parliamentary constituency the government school-turned polling station in Kralpora was the battleground between protesting youth and security forces. That day, on April 7, the area was swept by massive protests, like several other parts in central Kashmir. Today, an eerie calm enveloped the area. The voting center had been turned into garrison.
In the afternoon the polling staff was out, in the ground,basking under the spring sun. In the three voting centers, with 2530 votes,only 19 persons had exercised their franchise.
One among them was Ghulam Qadir Bhat, who described himselfan “old National Conference loyalist”.
“I’m a National Conference supporter since childhood,” said67-year old Bhat, reiterating that he doesn’t shy away from making hispolitical affiliation public.
Then, the elderly man with sunken face left in huff. “Thesediscussions won’t yield anything. I’m going to get my family members to vote,”he said while disappearing in the lane.
The atmosphere outside the polling booth was in sharpcontrast to the mood inside. There, youth from locality, huddled in smallgroups, on shop fronts and roadside, talked about the “disgrace these men”(referring to those who voted) bring to us”.
“Please do write that we didn’t vote, not a single youthfrom the locality voted,” said a burly youth in his mid 20s, whispering hisresentment.
Ahead of Kralpora, in Wathoora, a village located on banksof Doodganga nallah, and divided by Srinagar-Charari-Sharief road, onlysecurity forces were visible inside a higher secondary school that had beenturned into booth, at 1 pm.
“Only two elderly men came to vote in the morning. When wetoo are waiting for somebody to turn up,” said a CRPF man on duty. Inside, apolling officer conformed that just 2 of the 823 votes had been polled.
In the 2017 by-election to the constituency spread overthree districts – Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal – nine civilians were killedand dozens injured when protesting youth clashed with the security forces atseveral places. The segment witnessed 7.14 percent turnout, lowest ever in itselectoral history, after re-polling in 38 polling stations.
That time Budgam recorded 8.82 percent voting. Today, theoverall voting percentage went up to 21, almost three times higher, in acontest in which National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah is facing challenge fromPDP’s Aga Syed Mohsin, PC’s Irfan Raza Ansari and BJP’s Khalid Jehangir .
In Budgam constituency including the town and its adjoiningareas, the voting pattern was comparatively on the higher side. Though longqueues were missing outside booths a steady trickle of people flowed in.
A woman who came out from a government office turned intobooth, after casting her vote, said for a while she was in dilemma whom to votefor – Mohsin or NC’s Aga Syed Rohullah.
“They are uncle and nephew, it was difficult to choose, butI voted for the one we have supported in the past,” she said hinting that shevoted for NC.
Similarly the voting percentage was higher in Beerwah, theconstituency that was represented by NC’s vice president Omar Abdullah; partsof Chadoora, Charari-Sharief and Khansahab constituencies.
But there were areas which witnessed intense clashes likeNasrullahpora – a village located barely three kms from the Budgam town.Throughout the day youth fought pitched battles with security forces in andaround the locality housing the polling booth.
As the clashes raged on the security forces fired teargasshells and pellets to disperse the protesting youth who would re-assemble toengage the security forces again. Only two of over 2800 voted had been polledby late afternoon.
There were reports of clashes from other places like Hafrooand main town of Charar-i-Sharief. Three persons including a women receivedpellet injuries in Hafroo area of Chadoora while as clashes were going tilllater afternoon in Char town.