KUPWARA: Ignoring a boycott call, the separatists' stronghold of Kupwara in Kashmir Valley witnessed a huge turnout with nearly 62 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise in the third phase of Assembly elections. An estimated 62 per cent of 3.4 lakh electorate voted in the five constituencies of Karnah, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara and Langate in Kupwara district where polling was held peacefully, election officials said.

Karnah constituency located along the border recorded the highest turnout of 79.25 per cent, the highest among the five segments and 15 per cent more that in 2002 Assembly elections, followed by Lolab at 64.05 per cent, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Masood Samoon told reporters. Election Commission said Kupwara registered 60.52 per cent polling. The turnout in the other two segments of Langate and Handwara was 54 per cent and 59 per cent respectively.

Kupwara is hometown of JKLF founder Maqbool Butt who was hanged in 1984. It is stronghold of the two factions of People's Conference led by Sajad and Bilal Lone, sons of slain Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone. However, as in the last two phases, the separatists' poll boycott call had no effect on people who cast their votes amid tight security.

"We have nothing to do with the boycott call. We are casting votes for the formation of the government which can care for us and develop backward areas of the state like ours", said Abdul Rahim Lone (59) of Machil. An average 53.15 per cent voting was recorded in the five constituencies in 2002 with Karnah recording the highest of 65.37 per cent and Lolab the lowest - 46.89 per cent.

Despite low to moderate turnout in the early hours due to the cold weather, serpentine queues soon appeared outside many polling stations as morning fog gave way to sunshine. Eight persons were injured as police baton charged some anti-poll protesters in Tregham and Rawalthpura.

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