Jammu and Kashmir is voting on the first day of four-phase civic elections that have been boycotted by the two main parties in the Kashmir Valley, National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party. People are voting in 422 of the state's 1,100 municipal segments under heavy security, in the first urban local body polls in 13 years. The results will be announced on October 20. Elections are also being held in 149 seats in the Kashmir Valley and 26 in the Ladakh, Jammu and Pirpanjal region.
Mobile internet services have been suspended in south Kashmir for the voting. In other parts of the Kashmir Valley, the internet speed has been reduced, said officials. The turnout has been low till now; in one polling booth in Srinagar, 10 voters have showed up in four hours.
