Low turnout in Srinagar parts and moderate polling in upper reaches of Budgam and Ganderbal district marked the second phase of polling in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Kashmir valley but anxious voters were seen reaching polling stations in Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts of Udhampur Lok Sabha seat on Thursday morning.
Voters were seen coming out in small groups of 4-5 people in rural belts of Kangan, Ganderbal, Chrar-e-Sharief, Khansahib, Beerwah and Badgam voting segments of Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. Poll officials said voting is expected to pick up as the day progresses .The officials face multiple challenges in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. Securing polling stations, providing safe passage to voters, preventing militants from disrupting the poll process and ensuring that no law and order situation builds up during the day are the main challenges faced in this constituency. Law enforcing authorities shut mobile internet services from midnight ahead of polling in three central Kashmir districts
Reports also said small queues of voters were seen in Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts right from the beginning of the poll process for the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat.
Voters were seen thronging polling stations and lining up in small queues in both urban and rural voting segments of Udhampur constituency that includes Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts.
As reported already Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani the Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq the Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman and incarcerated JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik have called for a boycott of the election process and valley wide shut down on the day of polling to highlight the Kashmir issue.(KNS)
