Gurez (North Kashmir): Notwithstanding the recent ceasefire violation by Pakistani Army in Uri sector, the residents of the snow-bound border town of Gurez, which is going to polls along with 15 other Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir in the first phase on November 25, are upbeat to take part in the democratic exercise for the formation of new government in the state.
Gurez, also pronounced as Gorai in the local Sheena language, has a history of heavy voter turnout despite shelling and firing by Pakistani troops in the past, especially before the implementation of ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan in November 2003.
In the 2008 Assembly elections, the constituency witnessed a voter turnout of 74.02 per cent. Located 123 km north of Srinagar in the mighty Himalayas, the 2400-metre high Gurez in Bandipora district is going to polls on November 25 and has been witnessing a rigorous campaigning by contestants from all major political parties including the sitting MLA of ruling National Conference (NC) and Minister Nazir Ahmad Khan who is seeking re-election from the constituency to complete a hat-trick this time.
With tension gripping the areas near the LoC after Pakistan Army resorted to heavy firing in Uri sector of nearby Baramulla district on Saturday killing an Army jawan and a 17-year-old girl, the residents of the border town are worried but not scared to take part in the election process.
Although there has been no decline in the number of elections rallies in the border constituency in the aftermath of the Pakistan firing, the administration in consultation with the Election Commission (EC) is planning to shift a few polling stations from vulnerable locations for the safety of the voters.
Gurez constituency came into existence in 1996, choosing an Independent Faqir Mohammad Khan. In the 2002 Assembly elections, Khan of National Conference - who was inducted into the Omar Abdullah-led council of ministers in January 2013 - emerged successful and again retained the seat in the 2008 Assembly polls by defeating his nearest rival Faqir Mhammad by a margin of 732 votes.
After the ceasefire came into effect, the people in the border town have been living peacefully but the recent violation by Pakistan has reminded them of the past memories when they used to take refuge in the underground bunkers to escape the frequent and intense Pakistani shelling and firing.
"The border town of Gurez is not new to ceasefire violations, during all elections held in the constituency in the past since 1947 till 2002, Pakistani troops have targeted the town with heavy weaponry like mortars," recalled the locals.
During the Assembly elections in 1996 and in 2002, authorities had to shift a number of polling stations due to Pakistani shelling. "Over a dozen shells landed just about 100 meters from a polling station which was set up in a school in 1996," Ghulam Mohammad Wani, a resident said.
Since 1947, Gurez has suffered immensely due to ceasefire violations, he said, adding over 60 people lost their lives and hundreds have been injured in the shelling from across the border. He said a hotel just outside a polling station in the main market was hit when people were sipping tea after casting their votes in 1996 - the year when Jammu and Kashmir went to polls for the first time after a prolonged six-and-a-half-year spell of President's rule.
People can be seen cleaning up the underground bunkers in the town which the locals were using to save themselves from Pakistani shelling. "After 2003, we used to keep grass and other things in these bunkers, but now we are preparing it for the worst and praying for peace," he said. Ali Mohammad, another resident, said the voters including women had braved all odds in the past and voted in numbers to select their representative.
People living on the hills top have to walk for several hours to reach the polling stations, he said. "The polling station at Neeru, which is within the range of firing from across the border, always witness good voter turnout. People from far off and remote areas, which still have no electricity and roads, come out and vote at this polling station," he said.
Talking about the prospect of the candidates, he said there will be interesting contest this time as until 2008, people only knew a few parties and individuals.
This time the fight promises to be very e interesting as more candidates have joined the fray. The PDP candidate had manage just 170 votes in the last elections.
Gurez remains surrounded by snow capped mountains for major part of the year. Known for its diverse fauna and wildlife including the Himalayan brown bear and the snow leopard, a major part of the valley is occupied by Pakistan. The Kishanganga river passes through Gurez before entering Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), where the river is called Neelam.
People of Gurez are mostly Dards, they speak Sheena language and have their ancestral connection with Gilgit now in PoK. The feature and attire of the Dards are similar to Kashmiri people of mountain region. Ultimate adventure destination, Gurez once served as gateway to the famous silk route across central Asia.
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