J&K civic polls phase 3: 3.49% turnout in Valley, Samba records 82% voting

Srinagar, Oct 13: Just 3.49 per cent of the electorate voted in the third phase of the urban local body polls in militancy-hit Kashmir Valley, while a high turnout of 82 per cent was recorded in Jammu's Samba district, officials said on Saturday.

As many as 365 candidates are in the fray in the third phase of elections spread across 96 wards. Voting will take place in 300 polling stations. The polling percentage in the first two phases was at 47, 2.

Observers have been deployed, including micro-observers at 222 hypersensitive polling stations in the Kashmir Division and 19 in Jammu Division.

Control Rooms have been established in all the Municipal Bodies across the State to respond promptly to any complaints of violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) as also to disseminate information to the public. He said adequate security arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of polling across the state.

The government has also declared holiday on the day of poll in the municipal areas going to polls so as to enable the voters to cast their vote.