While an atmosphere of fear has been created by Pakistan backed terrorists and separatists on the conduct of the local body and panchayat elections in the Kashmir valley, a high pitched poll campaign is being witnessed in the Jammu division and Ladakh where several womenfolk have also filed their nomination papers.

There is absolutely no response in Jammu and Ladakh to the diktat of various terrorist outfits and the Kashmir-based separatists for a boycott of these elections.

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Poll enthusiasm was also being witnessed in areas of the Rajouri and Poonch districts along the Line of Control (LOC) with Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Interestingly, people have defied the election boycott call even in the areas of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts of Jammu where the separatists claim to have some pockets of influence. Senior superintendent of police, Kishtwar district, Rajinder Gupta, said these elections have generated enthusiasm among the people of the area.

Political party candidates and individuals contesting the elections in Rajouri and Poonch were campaigning in the traditional manner by using loudspeakers and going door to door.

More than 20 women have so far filed their papers for the civic elections in the rural areas of Jammu division.

The 75 seat Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is also witnessing an aggressive campaign.

The valley-centric National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, CPI(M) and some other small parties announced a boycott of the elections on various pretexts after the diktat of the terrorists and separatists.

BJP and Congress are the major political parties that are contesting the elections, besides a large number of individuals.

In a bid to create scare, terrorists set ablaze atelast seven panchayat buildings in different parts of South Kashmir and also abducted and killed three policemen.

Top separatists, Syed Alishah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar farooq and Yasin Malik are almost daily meeting at Geelani’s residence in Srinagar and creating an atmosphere of scare and also renewing their boycott call.

The BJP and Congress have announced their candidates at most places, while no formal list has so far been issued in the valley and the candidates might be asked to file their papers.

The Urban Local Body polls will be held in 4-phases from 8 to 16 October and the Panchayat elections will be held in 9-phases from 17 November to 11 December.

Ahead of these elections, J&K’s DGP Dilbag Singh and valley’s top Army commander of 15 Corps, Lt.General AK Bhat yesterday reviewed the security arrangements in Kupwara which is in the extreme-north of Kashmir. Both interacted with officers of the Army, BSF, CRPF and police and reviewed the security arrangements for the elections.

The Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, ShaleenKabra, yesterday issued notification for the conduct of fourth and final phase of municipal polls in Kashmir valley.