As clock struck 7 on Wednesday morning, the last phase of parliamentary polls began in Jammu and Kashmir. In the cold desert of Leh, the heterogeneous voters polled till the day merged with dusk. But in North Kashmir’s Baramulla, boycott and polling went hand in hand. Bilal Bahadur captures the mood in North Kashmir.
Standing Guard: This is the scene of Langate, Er Rashid’s constituency. People in fringes polled relatively in good numbers as compared to the town.Curious Queue: In Sonawari belt of North Kashmir, locals were seen standing in a queue since the early morning to exercise vote.Displaying Identity: In Handwara town, these women were tirelessly waiting for their turn to cast vote.Still Sanguine: In Wattergam polling station, this elder showed up along with his relative to be the part of polling.Unanimous Call: Meanwhile in Sopore town, a collective poll boycott was on display. Till late afternoon, the town had cast zero vote.Separated Town: Eight kilometers away from Sopore town, the cops had laid down concertina wire on the bridge leading to the volatile Old Town Baramulla.Poll Rope: But Handwara was different from Old Town Baramulla and Sopore Town.Grand Voter: An elderly lady of Handwara coming out of poll booth after casting her vote.Poll Fever: In one of the polling booths in Handwara, female folks going for polls.Deserted Sight: However, in Sopore town, streets remained deserted for the day.Panic Spot: In front of this gate, IED was found early Wednesday morning which was soon diffused.Enforced Scene: In Palhallan town, however, reports of street confrontations kept pouring throughout the day.At Loggerheads: In Old town Baramulla, the streets weren’t quiet for the day.Stony Message: At the point where Old town Baramulla was wired down, these stones were seen assembled, that too, from cops side!Battle Bridge: As the tempers started soaring in Old Town, government forces were seen in action from the old bridge itself.In Action: At the fringes of Baramulla, however, polling had a smooth sail.
