Stage set for first phase JK polls

Srinagar, Nov 16 (PTI) The stage is set for the first phase of polling Monday in the 10 assembly constituencies spread over four districts of Jammu and Kashmir amid tight security in view of possible attempts by militants to disrupt the polls.

Central security forces have taken positions well in
advance in and around 1038 booths in Bandipora, Poonch, Leh
and Kargil districts to instill confidence among the voters
and foil the "evil designs" of militants to disrupt the
electoral process, officials said.

Of the 1038 polling stations, more than half of them have
been described as 'hyper sensitive' while the rest have been
placed under 'sensitive' category.

Over six lakh electorate will cast their franchise to
choose 10 representatives tomorrow in the most-keenly fought
assembly elections in the state's chequerred political
history.

Their counterparts in 77 assembly constituencies will
cast their ballot in six phases on November 23, 30 and
December 7, 13, 17 and 24.

Former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and National
Conference leader Mohammad Akbar Lone, former Ministers in the
Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P.)-Congress coalition
government -- Usman Majid and Nawang Rigzin Jora, sitting Lok
Sabha member Thupstan Chhewang and member of the state
Legislative Council and P.D.P. leader Nizamuddin Bhat are
among the 102 candidates whose electoral fortunes will be
decided in the first round of polling.

Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Kuldeep
Khoda said inputs received by the security forces and the
recent attacks by militants suggest that efforts will be made
to disrupt the polls.

"The campaign for the 10 constituencies going to polls on
Monday which ended yesterday was peaceful. The inputs that we
have received and the recent attacks indicate that the
militants are not totally silent," Khoda said.

The authorities pressed into service helicopter to ferry
the polling staff and poll materials, besides security
personnel to high altitude areas currently cut off from the
rest of the state due to recent heavy snowfall in Kashmir,
officials said.

"We have flown seven sorties to Gurez for taking the poll
staff, security personnel and equipment there," they said.

While 70 percent of the staff has reached Gurez, the
remaining 30 percent are being flown to the border
constituency today," Kashmir's Divisional Commissioner Masaud
Samoon said.

He said requisite personnel and material had already been
delivered at Nobra and Zanskar constituencies in the Ladakh
region, cut off due to snowfall.

Although no militancy-related violence was reported
during campaigning in any of the 10 assembly segments, clashes
between separatists and mainstream political party workers
took place at several places in Bandipora and Sonawari
constituencies.

Two separatist leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir
Liberation Front (J.K.L.F.) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik,
were arrested by authorities on October 23 for launching a
poll boycott campaign at Hajin in Bandipora district.

The key Sonawari constituency in Bandipora has the
highest number of candidates among the 10 seats while Nobra
constituency in Leh district has the least.

Lone is facing challenge from 21 candidates in his bid
for second term as M.L.A. from the Sonawari constituency,
which was represented by dreaded counter-insurgent Mohammad
Yousuf alias Kuka Parray in 1996.

Lone defeated Parray by margin of over 12,700 votes in
the 2002 assembly elections. PTI AMS
DEP