Phase-5 records 51% voter turnout

Jammu, December 10

State Election Commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma said on Thursday that over 51 per cent of people voted across 37 seats in the fifth phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which passed off peacefully without any major untoward incident.

The SEC said while interacting with the media after the conclusion of the fifth phase polling.

Giving a brief about Thursday’s elections, the SEC said a large number of people came out to cast their votes. Sharma said polling was peaceful and people participated enthusiastically, despite severe cold conditions in the Kashmir division and in some hilly areas of the Jammu division.

He also said polling was conducted at 2,104 polling stations, including 1,190 in Kashmir division and 914 in Jammu division.

The SEC further said the Jammu division recorded an average voter turnout of 66.67 per cent, with Poonch district recording the highest percentage of 71.62 per cent, followed by Doda at 70.95 per cent and Rajouri at 70.83 per cent. The lowest turnout in the Jammu division was in Jammu district, which recorded 60.24 per cent polling.

The Kashmir division recorded 33.57 per cent average voter turnout, with Bandipora district recording the highest polling at 56.40 per cent, followed by Kupwara at 52.35 per cent and Budgam at 45.65 per cent.

Giving district-wise details, the SEC said in the Kashmir division, the polling percentage recorded in Ganderbal was 37.47 per cent, Baramulla 44.31 per cent, Anantnag 21.89 per cent, Kulgam 26.94 per cent, Pulwama 8.12 per cent and Shopian 5.52 per cent.

Similarly, in the Jammu division, poll percentage of 64.71 per cent was recorded in Samba, 69.47 per cent in Udhampur, 68.27 per cent in Kishtwar, 67.11 per cent in Ramban, 69.15 per cent in Reasi and 62.36 per cent in Kathua.

Cong for early Assembly polls

Jammu: If the District Development Council (DDC) election could be held in times of the Covid-19 pandemic, so could the Assembly elections, Jammu and Kashmir Congress in charge Rajni Patil

said on Thursday as she raised the demand for an elected government in the union territory.

She said the BJP ferried several Union ministers, national leaders and film personalities to campaign in Jammu and Kashmir as it feared it would lose in these local elections.

Flanked by state unit president Gulam Ahmed Mir, Patil also hit out at the administration for withdrawal of security and vehicles of Congress leaders, claiming the move was aimed at stopping them from campaigning for the DDC polls.

“If they (government) can hold the DDC elections during the Covid times, I appeal and demand holding Assembly elections soon and put in place an elected government. They should do it. It is our demand,” she told reporters here. Patil is the only national leader of the Congress to have hit the campaign trail for the DDC elections in Jammu and Kashmir. — PTI/IANS

Authorities helping BJP, says PAGD

Srinagar: Leaders of the PAGD alleged on Thursday that the administration was helping the BJP. The accusations stemmed from several incidents, including an assault on three journalists. NC vice-president Omar Abdullah alleged that the keepers of the law were more than happy to become lawbreakers “if it serves their interest of cosying up to the BJP and it’s offshoots”. PTI

NC, PDP, Cong befooling people: Jitendra

Rajouri: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday accused the NC, PDP and the Congress of befooling the people of the UT in the name of self-rule and autonomy, so that they could “camouflage perpetration of the dynasty rules”. He was addressing a public rally in support of BJP candidate Asif Choudhary. PTI

Three journalists thrashed by cops

Srinagar: Three journalists were allegedly thrashed by the police while they were covering the DDC polls in Anantnag district on Thursday. Fayaz Lolu, Mudasir Qadri and Junaid Rafiq also claimed their equipment was seized by the policemen, who took them to a police post after physically assaulting them. While the Kashmir Press Club (KPC) termed the incident at Srigufwara in Anantnag district “unfortunate” and called for a thorough inquiry, the Kashmir Editors’ Guild (KEG) expressed concern. Police officials refused to comment on the incident. “We hope strict action is taken against those found guilty in this act perpetrated in utter disregard of the freedom of the press. The KPC further urges the Chief Electoral Officer to initiate action against the police official concerned,” the KPC said in a statement. PTI

• Cop hurt after service weapon goes off