By NNN-PTI,
Srinagar : Polling for 21 constituencies in the seventh and final round of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday began amid tight security and overcast sky.
“The voter turn-out was low this morning due to chilly conditions. However, polling staff and security personnel took up their positions at 1,872 polling booths by 7.30 am,” an official source said.
Fate of 393 candidates, including former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, former Speaker Tara Chand, two sitting MPs, six former ministers and four ministers of state would be decided in the polls. There are also 31 women candidates and 151 independents trying their luck in this phase of elections.
As many as 70,000 personnel of Central security forces have been deployed in and around the polling booths set up for over 16.91-lakh (1 lakh=100,000) electorate in Srinagar, Jammu and Samba districts.
Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting from two constituencies — Hazratbal and Sonawar — is the most prominent figure among the candidates.
Meanwhile, at least 14 persons, including a photo journalist, were injured in the clashes between anti-poll demonstrators and police during polling for the seventh phase of assembly elections in the Valley Wednesday.
The incidents occurred when supporters of separatists groups attempted to take out march in violation of prohibitory orders forcing the police to resort to cane charge and lob teargas shells at many places, officials said here.
A group of people, shouting pro-freedom and anti-election slogans, tried to take out a march at Tankipora in the city but were intercepted by security personnel, the sources said.
The protesters resorted to stone-pelting and in retaliation security personnel used batons and lobbed teargas shells to disperse them, the sources said, adding in the ensuing clash nine persons, including a photo-journalist, were injured.
The condition of the photo journalist identified as Abid Bhat of Srinagar-based Political and Business Daily was stated to be serious, they said.
The officials said security forces also used force and lobbed tear shells at Natipora locality of uptown city where a group of youth tried to take out a march.
Five persons, including two policemen, were injured in the clashes, the sources said.
Similar reports were received from over one dozen places, including Nowhatta, Bemina, Lalbazar in the city.