Enthusiasm at Malhar polling station in Kathua

Jammu, Oct 1: Enthusiastic people in large number visited polling station at Malhar polling station in Kathua to cast their votes.

Similar scenes were witnessed at some other places also. Just two days after encounter between security forces and terrorists at Kog village of Kathua the remote areas of Malhar and adjoining areas of Bani and Billawar in Kathua district presented scenes of brisk voting.

In the encounter a Head Constable of police lost his life and a DySP and an ASI were injured, while an unidentified terrorist was eliminated. Enthusiasm of voters can be gauged from the fact that three polling stations located near the encounter site witnessed a voters turnout of 66.57 percent even after forces continued with its anti militancy operation in the area.

Encounter broke out in Kog area on Saturday and exchange of fire continued till Sunday. However, just after two days of this encounter, the democratic festival remained unaffected in the hilly, remote areas where Kog is located.

The Kog village falls under Malhar police station of Kathua district and falls under Billawar jurisdiction while it is also adjacent to areas of Bani.

Both Bani and Billawar sub divisions in Kathua district are being considered as terror affected and disturbed areas with multiple incidents as well as intelligence inputs and information of presence and movement of terrorists.

Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kathua district has also released a number of sketches of terrorists who are believed to be present in the upper reaches of district.

Bani sub division in Kathua share boundary with Bhadrwah of Doda district while Billawar with Dudu Basantgarh of Udhampur district.

Machedi village area of district also falls under Billawar sub division of district where a deadly ambush attack on army truck occurred on July 8 in which five army personnel had lost their lives.

The encounter and other terror threats failed to impact the enthusiasm of people who visited their polling stations in large numbers and exercised their franchise. Among these, over 66 percent voter turnout has been registered in Jogana polling station, around 68 percentin Sadrota-A polling station and around 67 percent in Ria Sial.

Meanwhile the anti militancy operation of forces in areas of Kathua district continued for third day as forces are attempting to track suspected terrorists who could be present in the area.