Srinagar, April 20
At least 36 per cent of polling was registered in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency today in which four persons, including two security men, were killed and several injured in various attacks by militants to disrupt the polls. An incident-free 40 per cent polling was registered in Jammu constituency, which also went to the polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir today.
Briefing newsmen here this evening, Mr K.J. Rao, Adviser, (Elections and Trainings), said the overall polling passed off “very well” and in a peaceful manner. He said the 36 percentage of polling was more than that of 28 per cent registered in the last Lok Sabha elections held in the constituency. This was, however, less than 4 per cent of polling recorded in the Assembly elections held in 2002, Mr Rao said.
While polling was held in Baramulla, a complete bandh was observed across the valley in response to the general strike call by separatist organisations as part of the anti-election campaign. Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the road. A Hurriyat (Geelani) spokesman claimed that a complete general strike was observed throughout the state and “complete boycott” observed. He added that the people offered resistance to the coercive measures by the security forces.
Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Gopal Sharma said except for two major incidents, polling passed off peacefully. He aid that the two persons including the driver of a Tata Sumo vehicle and a woman died and five were injured when their vehicle was hit by an IED at Sogam in Lolab area of Kupwara district. The vehicle used by members of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) had been moving with Press label in the far off place. The driver, Ghulam Nabi, died on the spot, while the woman, Asiya Jeelani, succumbed to injuries in the hospital here.
Of the over 15000
migrant voters from Baramula constituency, 1152 migrants cast their votes at Jammu, 113 at Udhampur and five in Delhi, for whom special arrangements were for voting, Mr Rao said.
A Head Constable of the Jammu and Kashmir Police succumbed to his injuries in a hospital here. He was among 10 persons injured when militants hurled a grenade towards a polling booth set up in a local school at Sopore last evening. Others included three police personnel, two BSF men and four civilians.
A CRPF jawan was killed when militants hurled a grenade towards a polling booth at Pazlipora, Dangiwacha in Rafiabad area of Baramula district this morning.
Two BSF men unjured when militants fired upon them near a polling station at Wanigam, Pattan, this morning. The polling was however, resumed shortly.
At least five persons, including three polling staff members and two BSF personnel, were injured in a grenade explosion at a polling booth housed in Fisheries Department rest house at Sumlar, Bandipore in Baramula district this morning.
There were three attacks — one last evening and two this morning — at the polling station at Higher Secondary School, Pattan, without causing any human loss.
