Sajid Raina
Hajjin, Dec 19 : Once a militancy hotbed, Hajin area in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district Saturday witnessed brisk polling during the eighth and final phase of DDC and panchayat by-polls held across Jammu and Kashmir reported news agency KNO.
According to the details available, Hajin-A and B panchayat blocks recorded over 56 per cent voter turnout in the DDC election.
An official said that Hajin-A panchayat block, which includes villages like Chandergeer, Sadunara, Hakbara, SK Bala, Chewa, Yarbalpora, Malpora, and Baniyari recorded 62. 47 per cent voter turnout.
He, however, said that Hajin-B panchayat block that falls in Bandipora assembly constituency and includes villages like Chittibandey, Aragam, Ajas, Bazipora, SK Payeen and Matipora, recorded a voter turnout of around 50. 24 per cent.
The official said that Hajin-A block consists of the main villages of Hajin and since 2008 was considered as the hotbed of militancy in the north Kashmir region.
On Saturday, by-polls for four vacant wards of Hajin municipality was also held, which recorded a voter turnout of around 59.43 per cent.
The official said that Ward No. 5, 7, 8 and 13 that went to polls today recorded a voter turn of 51. 47, 78. 21, 51.48 and 83. 80 per cent respectively during by-polls to vacant wards of Hajin municipality.
Most of the voters who turned up in large numbers at the polling stations in Banyari village of Hajin-A block told KNO that they came out to vote for the development of their village that has been ignored over the years by the successive regimes.
Some of the voters said that the village was ignored by the successive regimes for having a different ideology, however, today they came out to vote in large numbers as they want development in the area.
“DDC elections are meant for development and since we have local representatives contesting these elections so it gives us hope that the village will see some development, ” said Irshad Ahmad, who had turned up to cast his vote at Banyari High School polling station.
Meanwhile, an elderly woman, who identified herself as Taja Begum said she voted to return a favour to a politician who helped her to get her son out of jail.
“One of my son was arrested in some case and was locked up at police station Hajin, however, nobody came to help her and get her son released. Later, I went to a politician who helped me in getting my son released. That is the reason I came out to vote today. This was a kind of a burden on my shoulders,” she said.
Similarly, on Wednesday during the 7thphase of DDC election, Hajin-C panchayat block also recorded a high voter turnout of around 68.52 percent.
