Senior citizens keep date with democracy in J&K

Ignoring the boycott call of separatists and threats held out by militants, senior citizens were among the first ones to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha polls here.The polling began on a dull note in Srinagar Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency which consists of three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal.    

However, senior citizens kept their date with democracy. Atta-u-allah, over 100 years of age, cast his vote at 45-Raiara, Yach, in Beerwah Assembly segment of Budgam district, 45 km from here. 

Fazi, another centenarian, was among the 121 voters who cast his ballot at 29-B Saloora polling station at Ganderbal. Ghulam Ahmad Dar, 100, cast his vote at Chattergam, in Chadoora segment of Budgam.     

Eighty-five--year-old Khtji was among 90 voters who exercised their franchise at Doyen Primary School-36 in Chadoora segment in the first two hours of polling.   

Wali Mohammad Sheikh (80) was the first to cast his vote at polling station 11-Lawaypora in Batmaloo segment. Out of 849 voters, 130 have cast their votes so far.    

While most of the polling station in Srinagar wore a deserted look, reports of steady polling came from several polling booths in Budgam and Ganderbal districts.At Roppora-7 polling station, in Chrar-e-Sharief, 110 votes had been polled in first hour with Abdul Khaliq, a physically challenged man among the early voters.  

Steady polling was reported at Iskandarpora, Aripanthan and Malapora in Beerwah segment and Drigam in Khan Sahib segment of Budgam district.Similarly, in Mujgund area of Batmaloo Assembly segment, 120 votes were cast in the first two hours of polling. 

In the same assembly segment, in 1-A Gund Hasiebhat polling station, 120 voters had cast their ballot when reports last came in.  

Among the first time voters, Manzoor Ahmad, 18, exercised his franchise at 41-Daulatpora polling station of Chadoora segment, while Jan Mohammad (19) cast his ballot at 11-Lawaypora polling station of Batmaloo segment.