No impact of militant boycott call for poll in JK

Baramulla, Apr 24: About 50 per cent voters today cast their ballots in three Assembly constituencies of Pattan, Rafiabad and Sangrama amid thick security blanket despite militant outfits and separatist groups urging the people to boycott polls.

An official spokesman said 50 per cent polling was recorded till 1600 hrs in these three constituencies.

There was no report of any major untoward incident, he said.

He said highest voter turnout of 55 per cent was recorded in Rafiabad assembly segment followed by more than 50 per cent in Pattan and 36 in Sangrama.

A large number of voters were still seen in queues at the polling stations, he said.

Long queues could be seen outside the polling stations much before the polling began.

At Nadihal in Rafiabad constituency, about 29 per cent polling had been registered in three polling stations till 1000 hrs.

A 83-year-old physically challenged Abdul Gani Mir was among the first who to cast his ballot at Janbazpora polling booth.

UNI