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First round of municipal polls end amid Jammu-Kashmir divide (Third Lead)

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Jammu/Srinagar, Oct 8 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir held its first municipal polls in 13 long years on Monday amid a visible Jammu-Kashmir divide, with voters largely boycotting the contest in the Kashmir Valley but taking part with enthusiasm in Jammu and Ladakh regions.

But with tight security provided by thousands of police and paramilitary personnel, the electoral process went off smoothly in the Valley, with just one incident of stone-pelting reported in a Srinagar ward.

There was no militant related violence anywhere in the state, whose new Governor Satya Pal Malik is determined to hold municipal and panchayat elections despite calls for a boycott by separatists and militant threats to candidates and officials.

The Chief Electoral Officer said Rajouri district in Jammu region recorded the highest voter turnout at 81 per cent while the lowest in the troubled Valley was 3.3 per cent – in Bandipora district.

Srinagar district recorded 6.2 per cent, Badgam 17, Anantnag 7.3, Baramulla 5.7, Kupwara 36.6 and Bandipora 3.3 in the Kashmir Valley. Leh saw 55.2 per cent voting, Kargil 78.1, Jammu 63.8, Rajouri 81 and Poonch 73.1 per cent.

The overall voting percentage in the state was 56.7 per cent.

Except for a sporadic clash in Bagh-e-Mehtab area of Srinagar city between youths and security forces, Monday’s elections were peaceful — from the time they opened at 7 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.

The second, third and fourth phase of the municipal polls will be held on October 10, 13 and 16. The vote count is due on October 20.

Long queues of enthusiastic voters were seen in almost all the municipal corporation and committee wards in Jammu district.

But the story in the Valley was starkly different, with most voters keeping away from the balloting centres amid a separatist called shutdown.

The polls took place amid a boycott by the two key parties in the state — the National Conference and People’s Democratic Party. The CPI-M is also boycotting the polls, leaving only Congress and BJP candidates besides independents in the contest in the valley.

In Ladakh region, a biting cold kept voters away early in the day. But polling picked up in both Kargil and Leh.

A presiding officer was suspended at Aloosa in Bandipora district for allowing a woman to accompany a voter to the voting counter.

Elections are being held in 422 of the state’s 1,145 municipal wards. As many as 1,204 candidates are in the fray.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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