J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Two Lashkar men killed
Srinagar, February 7
Two militants of the Pakistan-based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) were among three persons killed, while the forces recovered arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

News Analysis
PDP, Cong make inroads into NC bastions
Srinagar, February 7
The results of civic poll in south Kashmir districts declared yesterday have once again manifested the capacity of the ruling PDP-Congress to make inroads into the bastions of opposition National Conference .

Two Lashkar men killed

Srinagar, February 7
Two militants of the Pakistan-based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) were among three persons killed, while the forces recovered arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

He said the security forces shot dead two LeT militants in an encounter at Mohalla Qureshian in Surankote last night. One house was also damaged in the exchange of fire. Two AK rifles and arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Anohter militant was gunned down at Kasyote Harni in Poonch district of Jammu region last night, he said, adding an AK rifle, five magazines and one wireless set were recovered from the slain militant. — UNI

News Analysis
PDP, Cong make inroads into NC bastions
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 7
The results of civic poll in south Kashmir districts declared yesterday have once again manifested the capacity of the ruling PDP-Congress to make inroads into the bastions of opposition National Conference .

The victory of the ruling PDP-Congress alliance, though both the parties contested against each other in the civic poll, is significant as both the parties have their stronghold in the twin districts of Anantnag and Pulwama. The twin districts comprise the Lok Sabha constituency of PDP President, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, while Anantnag is home district to the Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed and Pradesh Congress committee chief and Rural Development Minister, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed.

The turnout of voters in these south Kashmir districts, which has been registered much higher than the previous Assembly or Parliamentary elections, has been despite the threats from militants and boycott calls and campaign launched by the separatist political leaders.

There has been an increase in turnout in all the three phases of civic poll, north Kashmir, central Srinagar, and the south Kashmir, thereby “lending credence to the poll process for civic amenities by empowerment of people”, despite adverse campaign by the separatists, and rigging charges by the National Conference.

Though the ruling PDP-Congress combination could not get majority status in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation elections, these have emerged as a formidable force for the opposition National Conference here in its heartland. These parts of urban Srinagar have also been influenced more by the separatist diktats to boycott any electoral process. Against victory in 41 wards by the opposition National Conference, the ruling PDP-Congress alliance managed to make inroads into the NC bastions by getting a comfortable strength of 23, including 17 by the PDP and six by the Congress. It has been PDP’s only second attempt here, following victory over the NC by wresting the Batamaloo constituency in the last Assembly by-elections.

In Anantnag district, out of 75 wards, the result of which have been formally declared, the PDP has bagged 36 seats, the Congress 21, the NC 10 and Independents 8. Two other wards in Mattan remain uncontested. In Pulwama out of 13 seats, the PDP has won eight, the Congress two and the NC three. In Shopian out of 13 seats, seven have gone to the PDP, four to the Congress, one to the NC and one is vacant. Out of 26 total seats of Pulwama and Shopian Municipal Committees the PDP has bagged 15 seats, the Congress 6, the NC 4 and one Independent.

In the elections to 21 wards of Anantnag Municipal Council, the ruling coalition parties, the PDP and the Congress have emerged in 16 wards, including 11 of the PDP and five of the Congress. Four others have been bagged by the opposition National Conference from Anantnag town, part of the lone Assembly constituency represented by the National Conference. One has gone to an Independent. Observers here feel that the results showed a steep decline in the support to the National Conference even at its vital base.

In Beijbehara, home town of the Chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the PDP has made a clean sweep getting victory over all 13 wards lending credence to the support there.

In the nearby Dooru town, part of the Congress minister, G A Mir’s constituency, the Congress has got 14 out of 15 wards. The opposition National Conference has got victory over three of the five wards in Qazigund while the ruling PDP and the Congress have got one each.

There has been a remarkable increase in the voters turnout in the twin districts of Anantnag and Pulwama on the pattern of the civic poll in north kashmir and Srinagar. While Anantnag district registered 24.05 per cent of votes in the last Assembly elections, it has increased to 33 per cent in the civic poll, though it is the urban turnout this time. Similarly against 23.68 percent turnout in Pulwama district for the last Assembly elections, the urban areas have registered over 55 per cent of votes this time.