Security jawans stand guard as voters wait to cast their votes in Jammu and Kashmir. (Press Trust of India photo)
Undeterred by the threat of firing from across the border by Pakistani forces, sarpanch Mohammad Azam, along with 310 others, walked to the hypersensitive polling booth along LoC in Poonch district today to cast his vote for "ceasefire" and "development".
Mr Azam, among the first few voters to press the button on the EVM at Salotri polling station around 8 am, walked fearlessly along the serpentine LoC foot track from his home two kilometres away among the mountains, under the watchful eyes of Pakistani troops sitting atop observation towers.
"My security and development are very important to me and my people living along LoC in Poonch. My vote is for ceasefire to stay and above all for development," Mr Azam told PTI in Saloti.
Areas along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region, particularly Poonch, Jammu and Samba, have witnessed heavy firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops since October 1 which left 11 persons dead and nearly 100, including 18 security men, injured.
Around 32,000 people have fled their homes leaving 113 hamlets deserted along the IB.
Fear is the most hated word for Mr Azam and the border residents as they want a change in their lives with better security, good governance, employment avenues, corruption-free administration and most of all - development of the state.
"Our people have voted for development of this border belt. We are living like unwanted citizens with no facilities of roads, water supply, etc. Our middle school was set up in 1977 and it has not been ungraded till now to high or higher secondary school," the Sarpanch lamented.
120-year-old Alam Din, carried by his family members by foot, cast his vote at polling booth No 1 at Salotri for "development" of area.
Like him, Chuni Lal of Ajote border belt near LoC, a retired headmaster, also voted for "development".
"Men and women voters are coming out in huge numbers to vote for development and total halt to LoC firing amid rejection of divisive politics," he said.
"Most of the people are voting for the development, apart from generation of more jobs for unemployed youth and corruption-free governance. We want a majority government in the state," Mr Lal said, adding that successive governments have failed to do any good work for Jammu and Kashmir and have only misappropriated central funds. "So we want such a set up in the state which will be accountable to the people."
Choudhary Fazal Hussain and Sardar Hazara Singh (65), who exercised their right of franchise at Chakan-da-Bagh polling station and at Khari Dharamsal on LoC, have no different views from other and have also voted for peace and development in the state.
"I vote for security of people and development of this rural area. We need security from LoC firing permanently. All previous governments have failed," Mr Singh, who was among the 18 per cent of voters, who cast their votes at the Khari polling station in first one hour, said.
The eight-time voter said most of the voters are voting on the issue of development and there is no other issue as important in these polls.
Hitting out at corruption and joblessness in the state, Ritika Bhardwaj (18), a first year student and first-time voter from at Poonch town, said, "My vote is against corruption and mis-governance, besides a change and bringing a majority government which will ensure corruption-free governance, employment and development of the state."
Mohammad Rashid along with three others carried his grandfather Mohammad Hussain (107) by foot from an area near LoC to vote at Karmara polling station.
"He said voting is must to ensure democracy and development prevails in J&K," Mr Rashid said.
Poonch Haveli Assembly segment Returning Officer Showkat Ahmed told PTI there is a huge turnout of voters who have queued in long rows at polling stations since morning.
"With this huge rush of people at polling stations, it is expected that the polling can break all the records and go up to 90 per cent polling," he said.
"There has been no incident of border firing reported from anywhere although there is grave threat," he said, adding that an alternative contingency plan has been put in place for ensuring safety of voters and voting.
The nine Assembly segments in Jammu region polling today are Gulab Garh, Reasi, Gool Arnas, Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar, Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch Haveli along the border.