Over 64 per cent of the electorate in the three constituencies of the border district of Poonch ignored the poll boycott call of the separatists. And while a few minor incidents disrupted the first phase of polling here — including the arrest of a polling team for ‘socialising’ with a PDP candidate’s family —the day passed off peacefully in most parts of the district.

Uptil 5 pm, reports reaching here from the three constituencies said that Mendhar registered 65 per cent polling, followed by Poonch Haveli (64 per cent) and Surankote (58 per cent). These numbers are likely to up as people were still standing in queues at various polling stations across the district, officials said. Significantly, only 53.92 per cent of the total electorate in the district had cast their votes in the 2002 Assembly polls, but by afternoon this year, over 50 per cent had voted at a number of places.

The enthusiasm was so high that people not only came out in good numbers to cast their vote, but, according to Surankote Returning Officer Dr Rattan Lal, also made a point of informing polling officials about any misconduct. “There have been reports of minor scuffles between the supporters of contesting candidates over the issue of casting vote first,” he said.

Interestingly, political analysts attribute some of this ‘conscientious behaviour not only to the desire to have a democratically elected government at the earliest, but also to the sharp polarisation between Gujjars and non-Gujjars across the border district. Divided on ethno-linguistic lines and eager to support candidates from their own community, people were not only keen to vote but also to keep an eye on opposing camps.

... contd.