Phase 2 polling begins in Jammu Kashmir

Rajouri, Nov 23: Voting for the four Assembly constituencies in Jammu Kashmir's border district of Rajouri began peacefully on Sunday, Nov 23 with elaborate security and safety measures in place for the second phase of elections.

A large number of voters were already standing in queues at the polling stations before the start of polling at 0800 hrs, sources at Rajouri town said. Future of 59 candidates in the district will be sealed in the EVMs by 356,318 voters for the four Assembly seats of Darhal, Rajouri, Nowshera and Kalakote. At least 110 micro-observers would keep an eye on the election process while 57 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling across the district.

''Adequate security apparatus is in place for the smooth conduct of election in Rajouri,'' an official spokesman said.

Emergency services like fire and health were put on high alert to meet any exigency during the poll process.

Of the 454 polling stations in four Assembly constituencies, 85 were categorised as hyper-sensitive and 181 as sensitive in the district.

Besides Rajouri district, voting also started at Ganderbal and Kangan Assembly constituencies in Kashmir division.

Three Assembly constituencies of adjoining Poonch district had gone for elections in the first phase on November 17.

UNI