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JK: Polling on amid heavy security

By Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar
Last updated on: December 17, 2008 20:15 IST
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A total of 60 percent voter turnout was registered in the 16 constituencies of Kashmir and Jammu region that went to polls Wednesday in the sixth phase.

This was stated by the Kashmir divisional commissioner, Masud Samoon in Srinagar on Wednesday evening while briefing media-persons. He described Wednesday's poll as incident free.

Higher voter  turn out was recorded in nine of the ten south Kashmir constituencies of Dooru, Shangus, Devsar, Bejibehara, Pahalgam, Kulgam, Anantnag, Homshalibugh,Noorabad while Anantnag recorded moderate voting .


From early this morning voters including women had queued up at many places despite the biting cold and overcast conditions to exercise their vote.


The authorities had made elaborate security arrangements for a peaceful poll in all the ten constituencies of the two districts of Anantnag and Kulgam in south
Kashmir.

However, groups of anti-poll protestors came out in various localities of Anantnag town shouting pro-freedom slogans.

 

The protestors were later chased away by the police and paramilitary, Central Reserve Police Force using baton charges.

 

Former state chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who is also the patron of the People's Democratic Party is contesting elections from the Anantnag constituency where he is pitted against National Conference provincial president, Mirza Mehboob Beigh.

 

The state authorities had imposed strict curfew like restriction in capital Srinagar and other places to prevent anti-poll protests and marches called by the separatist coordination committee.


Shops, businesses in capital city were shut and traffic was off the roads. State government offices and banks were also closed in Srinagar.

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Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar