In uptown localities such as Barzulla and Natipora of Srinagar, the poll fervor was missing amid protests and ensuing clashes at some places.
Most of the polling stations wore a deserted look.Hyper-sensitive pockets such as Batamaloo saw only a handful of voters turningup at polling stations.
At Bazar Batamaloo, an area which has traditionally sidedwith the poll boycott, only nine out of the 4000 registered votes had been castby 1pm. Two of the voters were a man and his second-time voter son, rushinginto a narrow lane after coming out of the polling station, avoiding thepassersby.
“Our vote is a small contribution towards achieving autonomyfor the state. Even if we don’t come out to vote a government will be formed inthe centre. It took a lot of courage for me and my son to come here,” saidKhan.
His son said the security and polling staff were surprisedby their arrival at the polling station.
“We didn’t see any voter,” he said.
In Hyderpora, Rawalpora, Baghat, Barzulla and otherlocalities such as Solina, voter turnout was abysmally low. Pockets which hadwitnessed moderate voting in the Urban Local Body polls last year, toowitnessed low voter turnout.
A polling booth established outside the house of HurriyatConference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani became the center of attraction formany on Thursday as the Srinagar parliamentary constituency went to polls. Only30 out of 2891 registered votes were polled there by noon.
A group of people outside the polling station said “ourconscience does not allow us to vote”.
Aqib Nazir, a local youth, claimed that a few people whovoted were police officers, bureaucrats and polling agents living in the area.
In Sanat Nagar there was a mixed response to the polling.The area had been divided into five polling booths and till afternoon overthree hundred people had exercised their franchise. “The voters came early inthe morning to cast their vote,” said a member of the polling staff at one ofthe booths. “So far the situation hasremained peaceful.”
At another polling booth the staff said that the voters werecoming in ones and twos to cast their vote. One of the voters who had exercisedhis franchise at polling booth number 109 said casting vote was his “birthright”.
“Kashmir is full of problems,” he said. “I voted to elect arepresentative who can help us to come out of the sufferings,” the voter said.Though he didn’t name the candidate he voted for he said the electedrepresentative can raise Kashmir issue in the Parliament.
“We must elect a voice which represents us in parliament,”he said.
Amid mixed response to elections, life in Sanat Nagar wasnormal and there was hardly any impact of strike called by separatist on thepolling day. The traffic was plying normally and market was abuzz with peoplewhile paramilitary forces and policemen were guarding the streets and pollingbooths.
Another voter, after casting his vote at polling station No107 said, only mainstream politicians can safeguard special status of J&K.”Some people are trying their level best to weaken state’s identity andintegrity. It is time for mainstream politician not to allow anybody to fiddlewith it,” he said.
Some locals said there was no campaigning in the area andnobody approached them for vote. At the same time they complained about badcondition of roads. “We know they can’t solve Kashmir issue, but at least theymust address of problems related to governance,” they said.
There were no bee lines, huddles or serpentine queues at anyof the polling station in Lasjan, Nowgam, Sued Abad Soiteng, Mehjoor Nagar,Rajbagh and other adjoining areas but those who voted said that somehow Kashmirissue should get settled sooner the better.
Fehmeeda, a voter said that a democratic political processis a way forward for resolution of the Kashmir issue. “I cast my vote to choosethe candidate who can speak in parliament to represent aspirations of people ofKashmir. We need to elect a candidate who would press for ban on pellets,torture and other relevant issues in parliament,” Fehmeeda said.
“Around 105 votes were cast here till 2 pm. People arecoming to cast their vote, seeking resolution of political issue Kashmirthrough political means,” said Bilal Mir at polling booth Syed Abad Soiteng, apolling agent at the station for National Conference candidate Dr FarooqAbdullah.
At Lasjan polling stations witnessed thin attendance.However, one of a few voters who cast their ballot said, “By not casting vote,we don’t want a wrong person to get elected to represent us.”
Voters at Rajbagh, Mehjoor Nagar and adjacent areasexpressed similar views.
Polling in these areas was peaceful. A young man among a group of youth playing cricket on link road of Mehjoor Nagar said, “We didn’t vote as we experienced no politician deliver on promises once elected.”
SAQIB MALIK/MUDASIR YAQOOB