M A I N   N E W S

Srinagar sees 26% polling amid boycott, boy’s death
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News Service

NC candidate Dr Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar on Wednesday. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula said the tentative voter turnout in the constituency was 26 per cent. "There are many reason (for boycott), could be local issues or more larger issues," the official said. The 2014 percentage in the constituency, however, marks an increase of 0.45 percent from the last parliamentary election here. While there were fewer protests during the polling, the day ended with the death of a teenage boy, who was shot during a demonstration at Nawa Kadal area of the old city. Local residents said the teenage boy, identified as Bashir Ahmad, was shot dead by security force personnel. Separatist groups have called for a shutdown on Thursday against the killing, which has heightened the tension in the city.

The polling had a slow start in most parts of the constituency - which includes Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam districts - and gathered pace in several Assembly segments, including Kangan and Chrar-e-Sharif, the only two constituencies where the turnout crossed over the 50 percent mark. In most parts of the Budgam district, which has five Assembly segments and where the voter loyalty is closely divided between National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, voters came in ones and twos and at some places forming lengthy queues.

"We want a government which works for us, which benefits our village," said Ghulam Hussain Lone, of Budgam town, who was returning home after casting his vote. "Wasting a vote is a sin. It is a right and people should get its benefit," he said.

The voter percentage in Budgam district, which has 4,37,625 registered electors, kept steadily increasing with each passing hour beginning with 3.64 per cent at 9 am, 15.06 at 11 am, 25.72 at 1 pm, 32.29 at and settling at 39.50 per cent.

In Ganderbal district, which is spread over two Assembly segments and has 15,0976 electors which is the lowest among the three districts, the voters came out to form lengthy queues in Kangan segment, while the other segment recorded a moderate voter turnout during the day.

The voter turnout in Ganderbal district, also marked a steady increase rising from 8.88 per cent recorded at 9 am, reaching 38.77 per cent at 3 pm and finally settling at 45.61 per cent.