A BSF man’s observation: Voter turnout here is worse than in Naxal hit areas

For BSF man Himant, the voter response at Nowpora Wagoora-B polling booth was extremely dismal. Himant remembers his duty in a Naxal hit area during similar elections outside J&K where he says that despite Naxal threats, the voter turnout remained by and large moderate. 

Hailing from Maharashtra, Himant, was also part of security arrangement during the recently held urban local bodies elections. 

   

“Just a single vote was cast till 11.45 am on this polling booth” Himant who is deployed at Nowpora B polling booth said. The contest here is for the Sarpanch Halqa. 

The only vote cast till 12 pm at the Nowpora B booth was by Sarpanch candidate, Muhammad Abdullah Lone, while the second vote was cast by one of the family members of local Congress politician, Shoaib Lone. 

When asked about such low turnout at their stronghold constituency, the family member of the Congress politician said, “Situation is not conducive for polling here and under such circumstances people are afraid to use their franchise.” 

For Lone, the motive to contest for Sarpanch is to ensure his area gets due share in the development. “Though I was not interested to contest this election, however, I wish to provide basic amenities to people of my area,” said Lone, who is also former Sarpanch of the area.

The area witnessed complete shutdown on Tuesday on the call given by the Hurriyat leaders for the poll-bound areas. 

Outside Nowpora B, polling booth a group of local youths were busy in playing cricket. 

Seeing a group of reporters, one of the youth said: ‘Don’t waste your time here. People won’t vote’.

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