Stone pelting prevents voters from reaching Anantnag booths

Stone pelting by irate protesters in many places in south Kashmir's Pulwama district of this Lok Sabha seat Thursday prevented voters from reaching polling stations.

Youths pelted stones at the polling stations and vehicles of the security forces in Koil, Malangpora, Lassipora and Pulwama towns to prevent the voters from casting their votes.

Security forces tried to chase away the stone pelting groups of youth who kept on re-grouping.

Stone pelting at a polling station was also reported from Kiomoh town of Kulgam district in this south Kashmir Lok Sabha seat.

During the first two hours, less than 5 percent voters had turned out in the constituency to exercise their franchise.

Officials said 0.71 percent votes had been polled in Anantnag town, 7 percent in Dooru, 4.57 percent in Kokernag, Shangus 5.47 percent, Pahalgam 11 percent, Bijbehera 5.4 percent, Kulgam 7 percent, and Noorabad 8 percent in the first two hours of polling.

In the initial hours, Homeshallibugh saw 0.3 percent voting, Devsar 12.63 percent, Shopian 1.52 percent, Wachi 1 percent, Pulwama 0.20 percent, Rajpora 0.33 percent, Tral 0.2 percent and Pampore 0.32 percent.

Voting ends at 6 p.m.