Srinagar: Voting for the second phase of Anantnag Lok Sabha seat ended more or less peacefully Monday amid high security with only around 10 per cent voters coming out to exercise their democratic right. Only 10.2 per cent voter turnout was recorded in today’s polling in the four segments of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency,” polling officials said.
“The poll process ended peacefully despite some stray incidents of violence in which miscreants tried to disrupt the poll process by pelting stones,” they added.
Two youth sustained pellet injuries in clashes with the security forces in Kulgam district. Both of them have been shifted to Srinagar for treatment, police said.
Out of the four segments those went to polls today, 15,663 votes were cast in Noorabad segment, followed by 15,160 in Devsar segment. Voting was dismal in Kulgam and Homshalibugh segments with just 1,684 and 891 votes cast, respectively.
In addition to this, 1,762 migrant voters also exercised franchise at polling stations set up outside the Valley in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi, poll officials informed.
Voting began at 7.00am in Kulgam district’s four Assembly segments – Noorabad, Devsar, Kulgam and Homshalibugh. A total of 433 polling stations had been set up at 244 locations.
As a precaution, mobile Internet services were suspended in the south Kashmir areas. Train services between Baramulla and Banihal were also cancelled.
There are 18 candidates in Anantnag but the main contest is between Mehbooba Mufti of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Congress and Justice (Retired) Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference. The BJP has fielded Sofi Yusuf.