Long queues of voters in Dudu Basantgarh

Jammu, Oct 1: Polling stations across remote Dudu Basantgarh areas of Jammu's Udhampur district witnessed a joyful democratic festival on Tuesday as voting for assembly elections under third phase of assembly elections was held.

Udhampur district is comprised on four assembly constituency that include Udhampur West , Udhampur West, Chenani and Ramnagar 62.

A total of 654 polling stations were established in the district.

In Ramnagar remote and far areas including Dudu Basantgarh areas located which have witnessed a number of terror related incidents and other terror related activities.

Several encounters, terror attacks, face off firing have taken place in this area in this year with Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) on massive level are regularly being conducted to track the terrorists suspected to be present in this remote area.

A CRPF officer also lost his life in an encounter that took place at Chilly Dudu in Udhampur on August 19 while a Village Defence Guard (VDG) was killed in April this year in an encounter with terrorists in this area.

Another encounter between forces and terrorists took place in Dudu area on August 6 while almost one dozen terror related incidents including attacks, encounters, exchange of fire, stand off fire have taken place in this area this year.

However, despite this security situation, long queues of voters was seen outside majority of polling stations in the remote area with people braving all kinds of security apprehensions to cast vote and elect their representative.

Long queues were seen outside stations since early morning hours with some polling stations even remained abuzz with voters till late afternoon hours after which the voters turnout got slow as it usually seen across all the areas.

" There are some security apprehensions but this has left no impact on our democratic spirit." Rajesh Kumar, a voter from Dudu High School polling station said.

Kumar although mention about several terror incidents that have taken place in the area during last 6 months but considered spirit and confidence of people much higher than the fear.