No voting in Balnoi till noon

Lok Sabha Polls: Last date for filing nominations for first phase today --- Representational Photo

The residents of Balnoi village, located close to Line of Control in Mendhar sub-division, did not turn up at the polling station in the morning, leaving authorities miffed.

Officials said that all the arrangements were put in placeand the voting process started at 7 am, but no one from the village turned up.

   

After sometime, the staff at the polling station came toknow that the residents have decided to boycott the polls, they said, addingthat the higher authorities were immediately informed.

“In the afternoon hours, the concerned sectormagistrate reached the spot and pacified the people. Then voting resumed ataround 1 pm,” officials said.

The local sarpanch, Mohammad Sharif, told Greater Kashmirthat the residents decided to boycott polls for “want of basic amenities”.

“There is no proper water, power and road facility for thepeople living close to the LoC. Allotment of bunkers in the area has alsowitnessed poor concern from the authorities. All this forced us to boycottpolls,” he said, adding that the call for boycott was taken back after seniorofficers assured to look into the issues.

Meanwhile, the residents of Kotedhara and Katarmal villagesabstained from voting for hours together.

The residents of Kotedhara alleged, “The polling booth hasbeen shifted to another location, against our wishes. This has put us throughhardships.”

The residents remained on protest till the afternoon hoursafter which teams of civil and police officers, including sector magistrates,reached the spot and pacified the protesters.

Similarly, the residents of Katarmal village refused to castvote in protest against the dilapidated local road.

They claimed, “Time and again, we have brought the issue upwith the higher authorities who always assured to look into it. But nothing hasbeen ever done.”

Later, senior officers visited the spot and pacified thepeople assuring that their issue has been taken up with higher authorities andwill be resolved soon.

On this assurance, the locals called off the protest andcasted their vote.

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