SRINAGAR: The fourth phase of elections for 18 Assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday witnessed 49 per cent polling, while the poll percentage in eight segments in Srinagar saw a 7 per cent rise from the last election.
All the 18 Assembly segments -- eight in Srinagar, six in Anantnag, three in Shopian and two in Samba district -- went to polls on Sunday amidst tight security.
Polling was peaceful in all 16 seats in the Valley and two seats in Jammu, barring some minor clashes between workers of political parties and few slapping incidents.
In Moochwa area of south Kashmir, BJP candidate for Shopian district, Javed Ahmad Qadri, got into a heated argument with a poling agent of an independent candidate Shabir Ahmad Kullay. Locals said the BJP candidate slapped the polling agent in front of poll officials and voters.
Hina Bhat, the BJP candidate from Amira Kadal, also entered into a heated argument with a poll official in a poll station in Chanapora area of the constituency. There are reports that she had also slapped the poll official. However, she and poll officials have denied the slap.
J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula told reporters that Srinagar district recorded 28% polling, which was 7 per cent more than the 2008 polls. “South Kashmir’s Anantnag district recorded 61% polling, Shopian 50% and Samba 81% polling,” he said.
He said the highest turnout was recorded in Vijaypur Assembly constituency of Samba, while the lowest was recorded in Habba Kadal Assembly constituency of Srinagar. Referring to the candidates involved in slapping incidents, Narula said action would be taken as per law.
As many as 182 candidates, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, three ministers and other high profile candidates were in the fray for 18 seats.