No Votes Cast at Kanyari Ghat Polling Station in Bandipora as Locals Protest

Bandipora, 01 October: -The entire village of Kaniyari in Hajin area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, boycotted the assembly elections held on Tuesday, following a decade-long gap. Frustrated by the continuous neglect of their needs by political parties, villagers accused politicians of only appearing during election campaigns, failing to follow through on their promises afterward.

Residents expressed their deep dissatisfaction over the lack of basic amenities, including proper road connectivity and access to clean water. “We are landless people, and political leaders only come around during election time, making empty promises. Our village is still deprived of essential services, and we will not cast our votes until our issues are resolved,” one of the villagers said.

Mohammad Shafi, the Sarpanch of Kaniyari, voiced the community’s grievances, noting that this issue has persisted for decades. “Since 1951, we have been voting, with every political party promising us land, as we are a landless community. But once the elections are over, we are forgotten. This time, the entire village has decided to boycott the elections,” he remarked.

The villagers remain resolute in their decision to abstain from voting until their demands are addressed. They have called on higher authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner of Bandipora, to intervene and resolve their longstanding issues.

“We urge the higher authorities and the DC Bandipora to take immediate action and address our concerns,” the villagers appealed.