Four per cent voter turnout in Anantnag in first two hours

Nearly four per cent of the 11.65 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in Anantnag parliamentary constituency in the initial two hours of voting on Thursday amidst a poll boycott call by the separatists.

Kulgam and Anantnag districts of the constituency recorded six per cent polling each, while Pulwama district recorded a low of 0.5 per cent, a spokesman of the election office said.

He said Shopian district, which is also part of the Anantnag parliamentary constituency, witnessed one per cent of polling till 9 am.

Anantnag constituency is the largest among four parliamentary constituencies in Kashmir division going to polls in terms of electorate, number of districts assembly segments as well as polling stations. Anantnag district is at a distance of 55 km from Srinagar.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the constituency in view of a strike called by the separatists to protest against the polls.

Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is under house arrest since April 12, called for a 50-hour strike starting 6 pm on Tuesday to protest against the elections.