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An Incendiary Ride

Militants deter voters in the third phase, boosting NC's chances <a href=pti_coverage.asp?gid=271>More Coverage </a>

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An Incendiary Ride
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In Srinagar, a poor voter turnout is interpreted as good news for the NC. But it spells gloom for the Opposition. The militant attacks during the third phase of polling on October 1 in south Kashmir and Kathua in the Jammu region has hit the prospects of parties taking on the NC, particularly Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's People's Democratic Party (pdp). A high voter turnout was what the pdp was banking on, but voters stayed at home fearing militant attacks on polling stations.

A low turnout of 41 per cent was the result of 27 militant attacks across the state which killed 16 persons. The worst hit was south Kashmir, an opposition stronghold. The low voter response, according to observers, was unlikely to produce significant gains for the pdp. In fact, a near total boycott in certain areas of Pulwama and Anantnag came as a blow to the party which was hoping to turn the tables on the NC.

That the militants had managed to terrify voters was very palpable when this correspondent visited polling booths in the Valley. Most were deserted and even the officials there seemed to be fearing a militant strike. In Tral, Shopian, Kulgam, Noorabad, Kokernag, Dooru and Shangus segments, where polling began at 7 am, the turnout was very poor even at noon. Most of the militant strikes were actually launched in the forenoon of polling day, adding to the fear.

Poll pundits, following the low turnout in the third phase, are having second thoughts about their earlier prediction of a hung assembly. The NC, they point out, has been the biggest gainer in this round. Now rough estimates put it as the single-largest party and within striking distance of forming the government.

EC officials blame the poor voter response on the militant attacks. Chief electoral officer Pramod Jain said the Valley's Rajpora constituency recorded the highest turnout of 37, while Pampore had the lowest of 7 per cent. In Jammu region, Kathua's Bani constituency recorded 67 per cent polling while Hiranagar was the lowest at 46.

The third phase of polling marked the conclusion of assembly elections in the Kashmir Valley, which accounts for 44 of the 87 assembly seats. The turnout of 25 and 28 per cent at Anantnag and Pulwama respectively, as is evident, was low. But a higher turnout was difficult given the spurt of militant activity on polling day and because several far-flung areas, pockets of intense militancy, comprise these districts. Consequently, adjoining areas were also affected. As one resident of a village outside Anantnag put it: "We would like to vote. But who wants to take the risk?"

There were a few pluses, though. A notable feature was that the youth, especially first-time voters, turned up in encouraging numbers. So too did women. This perhaps because there were six prestigious contests in south Kashmir. The pdp's Mehbooba Mufti from Pahalgam, Sakina Ittoo from Noorabad, Bashir Nengroo from Pulwama and Ghulam Ahmad Shah from Devsar.

The poor turnout was for the Hurriyat proof that its boycott call had worked in south Kashmir. With dozens of diplomats and scores of mediapersons fanning out into the region, some people did say they had boycotted the polls in response to the Hurriyat's call. There were pro-azadi demonstrations too at Shopian town, where posters and banners of candidates were torn.

With indications of a poor poll percentage, there were far more instances of coercion this time than in the first two phases. In parts of Bijbehara, Pahalgam, Tral and Shopian segments, as also at Dyalgam in Anantnag segment, people alleged that the security forces were pushing voters to the booths to ensure a high turnout. At Dyalgam, Liver and Shopian, people put up resistance and refused to cast their votes.

While it would be wrong to give the Hurriyat credit for the low turnout, it's a fact that whenever militants are active the general public are reluctant to exercise their franchise. The security and intelligence network seems to have failed to instil enough confidence in the voters in the third phase. But then south Kashmir is a difficult terrain to police and is the militants' favourite hunting ground.

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