The two border towns of Baramulla and Kupwara witnessed voluntary voting for the first time. Significantly, the willing voters had at most of the booths cast their votes in the early hours of the day. In Pattan Assembly constituency, there were queues of voters at Mirgund and Pattan proper. There were no evidence that the security forces were used to bring out the voters.
Congress candidate from Pattan, Movi Iftekhar Ansari, who is also supported by the National Conference, was roughed up by voters when he tried to enter the polling booth.
The border constituencies of Uri and Karnah also witnessed voluntary voting. In Uri, Congress candidate Taj Mohiuddin alleged that the National Conference activists captured many booths. In Sonawari, the constituency where Kuka Parray is contesting against National Conference, the National Conference has alleged that 12 of their polling agents were kidnapped by gunmen of Parray after they objected to booth capturing by Awami League supporters.
One significant feature of the polling in these two constituencies was that about 80 per cent local staff attended their poll duties at Baramulla and Kupwara.
In towns like Baramulla proper and Sopore, however, the scene was different. There was virtually no voluntary voting at these places and the two townships wore the look of a ghost town following a protest hartal observed against the elections.
The people said they had been forced to come out and vote by the security forces. At one polling booth, Sangrampora in Sopore, the situation reminded one of curfew with residents complaining that they had no interest in voting but were left with little choice after coercion from the security forces.
A mortar shell exploded at Tujar in Sopore, killing two children. In Dardpora, secessionist militants occupied a vantage position at a nearby hilltop and started firing at the voters. Army said Pak troops started firing with heavy calibre artillery along the Line of Control in order to deter voters .
who came out in large numbers to vote in Karnah Assembly constituency.
In Gulmarg Assembly constituency there was heavy voter turn out. There have been no reports of coercion in this constituency there the Congress and the National Conference are running neck to neck.
Governor K V Krishna Rao, while speaking to pressmen said allegations of coercion in elections was merely a canard. Protection to voters from their homes to the polling booths should not be misinterpreted, the Governor added.
Meanwhile the state chief secretary, while talking to newsmen here said that the high voter turnout indicates that people want restoration of democracy in the state.
Chief electoral officer Jalil Ahmad Khan said the voting percentage was more than 50 percent. He also denied allegations of coercion.
