Many Gundpora residents couldn’t vote, owing to missing names from voter’s list

Will look into the matter: DC Bandipora

Sajid Raina

Bandipora, Dec 11: The residents of Gundpora village in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district have alleged that they were not allowed to participate in the fifth phase of District Development Council (DDC) polls after their names were missing in the voter’s list despite casting votes in the last elections.

The villagers told news agency—Kashmir news observer (KNO), that when they went to cast vote at Gundpora polling station on Thursday, the officers on duty did not allow them, as their name were not in the voter’s list.

“We have been consistently participated in previous elections, how come our names were not in the list this time,” they said.

Ubaid Ahmad, a local resident, said he has five votes in his family but they did not get a chance to cast a single vote as their names were missing in the list.

“We returned back from polling station without casting a vote,” he said.

Naseema Bano (46), also complained that five of her family members left home to cast vote but had to return disappointed after their names were not in the list.

The locals appealed the DC Bandipora to look into the matter as soon as possible.

“We also wanted to take part in the polling to choose our representative but it did not happen due to the negligence of the administration,” they said.

Block Development officer (BDO), Arin Mir Tajamul said that those who have been deleted in the voter’s list are either dead or have been married.

Tajamul said they have not received any complaints that voters were not able to exercise their franchise.

“It is beyond my understanding that how registered voters in last elections were not in the list this time. I will try my best to find out the reason,” he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad said that he would look into the matter