Fourth phase of polling begins in Kashmir

Polling started Sunday in the three districts of Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian amid tight security even as few voters turned out to exercise their franchise because of freezing winter temperatures in the morning.

The constituencies are spread over four districts - Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian - in the Kashmir valley and Samba district in the Jammu region.

Just two voters waited outside one polling station in Amira Kadal constituency in Srinagar as the doors of the polling station were opened to voters at 8 a.m.

In Batmaloo constituency of Srinagar city, only four voters came to cast their votes at a polling station.

Voter turnout in the morning was very low in Idgah, Habba Kadal, Khanyar and Hazratbal constituencies as well, but poll officials said the turnout would start to pick up as the day progresses.

A considerable number of early voters had turned up at Pahalgam, Doru, Shangus and Kokernag constituencies of Anantnag district, while voter turnout was low in the two constituencies of Shopian and Wachi of Shopian district.

A queue of voters started building up in the Khimer and Chatterhama villages of Sonwar constituency, where state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is contesting from. His main challenger at the constituency is Muhammed Mir Ashraf from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Voting is taking place for 16 constituencies in the Valley and two constituencies of Samba district in the Jammu region.

Keeping in mind reports that separatists might try to disrupt the fourth phase poll process in the state, 440 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed to secure the poll process. These are in addition to the already deployed personnel of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force.

Separatists have called for a boycott of the poll process.

A total of 1,890 polling stations have been set up and over 14 lakh voters will decide the fate of political heavyweights.

Among the high profile candidates, whose political future would be decided in today's polls are Omar Abdullah, former chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and other ministers, including G.A. Mir, Ali Muhammad Sagar and Peerzada Sayeed.

The fate of Mubarak Gul, speaker of the outgoing state assembly will also be decided in today's polls.

Polling will end at 4 p.m. today.