JAMMU, SEPT 6: The inaction by the Election Commission and the local administration and threats issued by secessionist forces resulted in a low turnout in Srinagar.Only 11.8 per cent of the total 8.53 lakh voters exercised their franchise yesterday as against 30.06 per cent during the last Lok Sabha polls in 1998. The turnout was 41 per cent in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections held after seven years.The highest (55 per cent) polling was recorded in the Charar-e-Sharief assembly segment, followed by Kangan (31). The lowest 0.5 per cent polling was recorded in Habbakadal, while it was 5.5 per cent in Hazratbal assembly segment, Zadibal (3), Iddgah (2), Khanyar (4), Amirakadal (9.5 per cent), Sonawar and Batmaloo (3 each).State Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitly attributed the low turnout of voters to the fear among the electorate, saying the media has also been publishing the threatening calls of secessionists. He described it as ``very unfortunate''.Chief Electoral Officer S V Bhave said the electorateappeared to have been intimidated by secessionist elements. This time, their threat was more serious, he said.However, the administration did not initiate action on time against those campaigning for the boycott of polls, as low turnout during the polling suited the ruling party. The Election Commission also did not intervene.While the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) campaigned for poll boycott throughout the state, various local newspapers published militants' threats. The administration acted against them only a few days before the polling, only after the damage was done.The administration had in 1996 and 1998 banned all the newspapers from publishing any material that aimed at intimidating the electorate. As a result, the newspapers in Kashmir Valley had suspended their publication for about 40 days during 1996.
