J&K: Infiltration bid on LoC foiled on polling day

Srinagar, Dec 2: An infiltration bid on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district was foiled Tuesday, the day voters of this border district cast their ballots in the second phase of assembly elections.

The army said a group of five to eight heavily armed guerrillas made an infiltration bid in Nowgam area of the LoC on Tuesday morning.

"Alert soldiers have engaged the group in a sustained gun battle in Nowgam sector on our side of the LoC.

"The infiltration bid has been foiled but a gun battle is still on in the area," a senior army officer told IANS at around 11 a.m.

Voting began on Tuesday morning in 18 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir going to polls in second of the five-phased state elections. Moderate polling was recorded in the nine constituencies of the Kashmir Valley which went to polls in the state.

Nearly five per cent voter turn out was recorded in the first one hour. Polling was by and large peaceful. Serpentine queues could be seen at many polling stations as voters waited for their turn. According to official figures, Lolab Assembly segment recorded the highest turnout of 10.5 per cent in the first hour of polling.

Polling was by and large peaceful in the Valley

Kulgam Assembly segment also recorded a good turnout of 5.14 per cent during the corresponding period.

Langet recorded 4.76 per cent followed by Devsar at 4.43 per cent and Handwara in north Kashmir Kupwar district at 4.02 per cent.

Noorabad Assembly segment in south Kashmir Kulgam district recorded 3.6 per cent, Home-Shalibugh had 1.9 per cent of polling. Data for Kupwara and Karnah was not yet available.

As many as 18 Assembly segments, spread over five districts - two in the Valley and three in Jammu region - will decide the fate of 175 candidates which includes the lone woman minister in the National Conference-Congress coalition government Sakina Ittoo.

Of the 18 constituencies, Handwara in north Kashmir Kupwara district will be the focus of attention as separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Gani Lone is making debut in Assembly elections after unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha polls in 2009.

IANS