Voters brave cold weather to cast vote in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Ignoring boycott call by separatist groups and braving cold weather, moderate polling was today recorded in most of the 15 constituencies going to polls in the first of the five-phased polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Barring couple of stray incidents of violence in Ganderbal and Bandipora districts, polling was by and large paceful.

Nearly 16 per cent of the 10.52 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling while serpentine queues could be seen at many polling stations as voters waited for their turn.

According to official figures, Gurez Assembly segment in Bandipora district recorded the highest turnout of 24 per cent in the first two hours of polling till 10.00 AM.

Kangan Assembly segment in Ganderbal district also recorded a good turnout of 18.50 per cent during the corresponding period.

Bandipora Assembly segment recorded 15.44 per cent polling, followed by Banihal with 14.82 per cent, Ramban with 14.56 percent, Doda and Bhaderwah 14 per cent each, Ganderbal with 13.69.

However, voter turnout was low in Kargil and Leh assembly segments, where the minimum temperatures are eight to 10 degrees below freezing point.

Kargil recorded only four per cent turnout in the first two hours while Leh recorded 6.27 per cent. Zanskar and Nobra segments, also falling in the Ladakh region, witnessed around 9.50 per cent turnout.

The average turnout in other constituencies was 15 per cent.

In the 2008 Assembly elections, an average of over 60 per cent polling was witnessed.

The situation across the state has been by and large peaceful so far, barring couple of stray incidents of violence in Ganderbal and Bandipora districts.

Suspected militants hurled grenades at two polling stations in Nowpora area of bandipora and Naidkhai area of Sonawari but there was no damage done in the explosions.

The polling went on peacefully even after the explosions as the grenades landed some distance away from the booths.

In Barsoo area of Ganderbal, PDP supporters clashed with National Conference supporters, resulting in minor injuries to one person.