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LS: Srinagar to vote tomorrow, security beefed up
Srinagar, Apr 29 (IBNS): After lower turnout in Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat in south Kashmir, central Kashmir is going to poll on Wednesday amid tight security measures.
Security has been beefed up across Central Kashmir while officials said adequate measures have been taken to ensure incident free polling.
Fourteen candidates are in fray in the constituency, but the main contest is between National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Front (PDP) senior leader Tariq Hamid Karra.
Besides, Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate Raja Muzafar is also in the fray who is expected to make inroads in the constituency especially in certain belts of Budgam district.
In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, 15 candidates were in the fray in Srinagar constituency.
Farooq Abdullah had got 147035 votes while PDP's Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari bagged 116793 votes.
The constituency spread over three districts-Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal-and has 15 Assembly segments. National Conference represents 12 of 15 assembly segments while PDP represents two and occupies one seat.
A total of 11,71,722 voters are registered with the election department in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts of Srinagar Parliamentary constituency. Srinagar tops the electoral population with 591977 voters followed by Budgam with 428799 voters and Ganderbal with 150976.
Political observers were expecting high voter turnout in Anantnag-Parliamentary seat this time around. However, killing of Panchayat members in Tral area of Pulwama district and clashes resulted in lower turnout of 28 percent. It remains to be seen how many people come out to vote this time around and cast votes in Central Kashmir.
Meanwhile, security apparatus across the Central Kashmir has been beefed up ahead of the polling date.
"241 additional companies of CRPF and the Sashatra Surakhsha Bal (SSB)
have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of polls," spokesperson CRPF Kishor Prasad said.
Joint contingents of police and CRPF are frisking vehicles, particularly the Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and two wheelers in almost all parts of Central Kashmir and the pedestrians are being asked to prove their identity.
Sources said that Rashtriya Rifle (RR) battalions of army present in Budgam and Ganderbal have been asked to conduct night patrolling in their respective areas.
Adequate securities have been provided to polling staff especially in restive areas.
A police official said, "in view of recent attacks, we have asked polling staff to remain under police security. They will be provided full security during night
hours as well."
He said several nakas have been put in place in most of the areas to foil any attempt of violence.
(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
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