SRINAGAR, 27 April 2004 — A measly 20 percent voters exercised their franchise in the parliamentary elections with the majority of Kashmiris remaining indoors in response to the poll boycott call by the various separatist groups.
In the eight voting segments in Srinagar city the boycott was near total while in rural segments the poll percentage remained moderate.
In a city with over 1.25 million population it appeared the boycott call given by separatist leaders had many takers while in rural areas the boycott had a mixed response. Strike was complete in Srinagar and other major towns of the valley.
However the chief electoral officer B.L. Nimesh told a news conference here that the overall poll percentage in the Srinagar constituency was tentatively 21 percent.
“It was a total peaceful election and an improvement over past parliamentary elections in Srinagar,” Kashmir’s top civil servant S.S. Bloeria said.
“These are clear signs that people want peace and normalcy in Kashmir,” Bloeria said.
Troops were on high alert at the 1,080 polling stations in the district.
Srinagar was deserted amid a boycott call and strike by separatists. Many children took advantage of the shutdown by playing cricket and other games in the deserted streets of the capital.
Only one percent of 67,521 voters turned out in one Srinagar area, Habba Kadal.
“Our goal is freedom and we will achieve that,” said Showket Ahmed, a shopkeeper in Habba Kadal.
“Mujahedeen are fighting for a noble cause. We have willingly supported their boycott call,” added resident Janbaz Akhter, referring to Kashmiri rebels.
But Nasreen Shafi, 30, who has never cast a vote, said, “I wanted to vote to see how it feels but I was scared.”
Voters outside the city said they were less daunted by rebel threats, helping boost turnout. The highest voting was in the Chrar-e-Sharief area at 59 percent, in line with national trends.
Rebels had threatened people with “unspecified consequences” if they voted and there was a spate of attacks on political rallies and party workers before the polls opened.
Mehbooba Mufti, head of Kashmir’s ruling People’s Democratic Party, had a narrow escape Sunday when suspected rebels hurled a grenade at her motorcade in Kulgam, near Srinagar. The grenade missed her but killed three and wounded 46.
In Srinagar yesterday, police said they defused a bomb near a voting station, while a girl was injured when a grenade hurled at a polling booth missed the target and hit her house in Budgam.
Police said rebels overnight attacked three voting stations in Budgam district with rifle fire and grenades, injuring six border troops and a civilian.
Last Tuesday’s first round of voting for two Kashmir constituencies was marred by violence that killed four and injured 25.
Mohammed Shafi, a supporter of the National Conference party which was defending the Srinagar seat, defied rebel threats to vote.
“I’m not afraid of anyone. I want my party to win,” Shafi said, while Kashmiris basked in the warm sunshine near the polling station showing no interest in the vote.
“I’m braving threats to vote for development,” said villager Abdul Aziz, 56, at Kangan, 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Srinagar.
India has sent 7,000 extra forces for the vote to support 65,000 troops already in Kashmir to battle the revolt.
