J-K panchayat polls highlights: Kashmir region records 34%, Jammu 59% till noon

Voting ended for the third phase of panchayat polls across Jammu and Kashmir amid tight security on Saturday. Voting took place in 2,773 polling stations -- 918 in Kashmir division and 1,855 in Jammu. Polling started at 8am and ended at 2 pm.According to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shaleen Kabra, 727 polling stations had been categorized as hypersensitive -- 493 in Kashmir and 234 in Jammu.Here are the updates:

6:14 pm IST

727 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive -- 493 in Kashmir and 234 in Jammu. (ANI/Twitter)

Kashmir region records 34%, Jammu 59% till noon

Kashmir region recorded 34 per cent polling while Jammu registered 59 per cent till noon in the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat elections, official said.

Poonch district in Jammu region recorded the highest polling of 67 per cent, while Ganderbal district in central Kashmir recorded the lowest at 9.2 per cent, they said. Among other districts of Jammu division, they said Kathua, Ramban and Rajouri witnessed 62.5, 62.2 and 61 per cent polling, respectively. It was followed by Doda (52.3) and Kishtwar (51.1).

In Kashmir division, Bandipora district topped the turnout chart with 40.3 per cent, followed by Kupaware with 39.3 per cent, Badgam 33.1 per cent, Baramulla 20.1 per cent, Kargil 52.5 per cent and Leh 40.1 per cent, they said.

12:05pm IST

Voter turnout till 10 am

 

Voter turnout till 10 am for the third phase of #JammuAndKashmir panchayat elections. pic.twitter.com/veZYrsEu9S— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2018

Voting at polling station in Kupwara’s Chowkibal village

Voting is underway for the third phase of Panchayat elections in #JammuAndKashmir. Visuals from a polling station in Kupwara's Chowkibal village. pic.twitter.com/aedqcP9N1u— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2018

8:05am IST

Voting begins

Voting begins for third phase of the state panchayat polls. The local elections were last held in the state in 2011.

Phase two of the elections took place on November 20 and saw 71.1% polling.