Assembly polls: Defeat of separatists

Kangan (J&K): The reasoning of Muslim electorate of Chenab Valley, mostly hilly terrain which had been a hotbed of insurgency and where select killings and religious violence between Muslims and Hindus in the past had left a multitude of unhealed scars, was that if they stayed away from the ballot it would amount to putting all the six seats in the BJP’s lap.

However, it was mainly two Valley districts — Bandipore and Ganderbal — which had a big surprise in store for the separatists.

Many voters in Ganderbal and Bandipore districts of Kashmir Valley said participating in elections and the issue of Kashmir are two separate issues. “We have problems of drinking water, power, roads. The pro-azadi leadership can’t address these issues,” said Nazir Ahmed Telli.