Srinagar, Feb. 13 -- In a remarkable turn of events, the town of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir, historically known for low voter participation and strong separatist sentiments, witnessed an unprecedented surge in voter turnout during the 2024 parliamentary and assembly elections. This significant increase marks a pivotal moment in the region's democratic journey, reflecting a shift towards mainstream political processes and a departure from the longstanding culture of election boycotts. For decades, Sopore had been the center of separatist influence: elections were either marred by boycott calls or militant threats. However, on this occasion, the elections displayed a stark contradiction to this trend, as electors came in record numbers and...