J&K polls begins

SRINAGAR: Voting for the second phase of assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir has begun that will decide electoral fortunes of 81 candidates, including National Conference president Omar Abdullah and former PDP minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal.

About five lakh electorate would queue up before 530 booths to press EVM buttons to elect their representatives in six constituencies ��� Kangan and Ganderbal in the Valley and Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote in Rajouri district of Jammu region.

The first phase of the polling on November 17 saw an unprecedented turnout of 69% despite Hurriyat's call for poll boycott. Ganderbal constituency will be most-watched as NC President Omar Abdullah is locked in a triangular contest with PDP's Qazi Afzal and Sheikh Ishfaq Ahmad of Congress.

Twelve candidates are in the fray for Ganderbal. Qazi created history in the last 2002 assembly elections by defeating Omar in his family's traditional stronghold. But he is in a tight spot this time due to his controversial role in the Amarnath land row.

From Kangan, National Conference nominee and Gujjar leader Mian Altaf is seeking a fourth straight victory. The campaigning in the six constituencies ended Friday evening on a violent note as 15 people were injured when security forces fired at the supporters of rival parties after they clashed near Ganderbal.

In Jammu region, about 3.5 lakh people will vote to decide the fate of 59 candidates including two women contestants.

Meanwhile, security forces have taken positions in advance around polling stations to instil confidence among the voters and foil possible attempts by militants to disrupt the polls, a police source told TOI. Nearly half of the 530 polling stations have been designated as 'hyper sensitive' while the rest have declared as 'sensitive'.