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| Over 40pc voting in 11th phase of panchayat polls in J & K | | |  EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, May 25 : More 40 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the 11th round of 16-phase panchayat polls in nine blocks in Jammu and Kashmir during the first three hours amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Despite boycott calls by separatists, including breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) and militant attacks on contesting candidates, more than 80 per cent polling was recorded in the first ten phases of polling in the state, which began on April 13.
However, a woman candidate, belonging to Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) was killed while two other candidates were shot at and injured and two panchayat ghards were set on fire.
Polling began at 0800 hrs in all polling station set up in nine blocks amid unprecedented security arrangements.
People, including women, were seen marching towards their respective polling stations much before the polling began at some centres.
Official sources said more than 40 per cent polling was recorded during the first three hours.
In the Kashmir valley, polling was underway in Zaingeer in Baramulla district, Bandipora, Pulwama and Qazigund in Anantnag district.
Drabshalla in Kishtwar, Marmat in Doda, Ramso in Ramban, Bhalwal in Jammu and surankote and Bafliaz in Poonch district of Jammu region also went to the polls today.
Hundreds of state police and CRPF personnel, wearing bullet-proof jackets and holding automatic weapons were seen deployed outside the polling station to instill confidence among the voters and also to thwart any attempt to disrupt the process.
The 12th phase will be held on May 29 while 13th to sixteen rounds are scheduled for June 2, June 6, June 11 and June 18 respectively.
Panchayat polls, on non-party basis are being held through ballot boxes as the State Panchayat Raj Act does not allow the use of Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) in the polls.
The polls are being conducted after about a decade in the state.
The Hurriyat Conference and some other separatists groups have appealed to the people to stay away from poll process.
However, Chief Minister Omar Abdulah, who promised to give full powers to panchayats and hold Local Bodies elections, had emphasised on smooth conduct of panchayat polls as local problems could be addressed with speed through panchayats.
He however had said that these polls had nothing to do with the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
The main opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) claimed near total rout of the ruling National Conference (NC) in the panchayat polls.
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