New Delhi/Srinagar, Nov 17 (IANS) With large crowds coming out to vote Monday in the first phase of the seven-stage polling in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said more than 55 percent electorate exercised their franchise.
Over all voting percentage in the state was recorded more than 55, deputy election commissioner of India R. Bhattacharya told reporters in Delhi.
Bhattacharya said the Election Commission of India was 'still collating the data and the figures can go up'.
He said the polling in the troubled state was by and large peaceful barring minor skirmishes.
In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, chief electoral officer B.R. Sharma said 74 percent of voters polled in Gurez, 44 percent in Bandipora, 42 percent in Sonawari - the three constituencies in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir Valley, where separatists had urged the people to stay away from the exercise.
Speaking to reporters after the polling, which began at 8 a.m. and closed at 4 p.m., Sharma said in Jammu region, Mendhar reported a turnout of 67 percent, Poonch Haveli 64 and Surankot 58.
In the cold desert of Ladakh, where temperatures dipped below zero degrees Celsius, 48 percent of voters in Zanskar turned out, 57 percent in Kargil, 55 percent in Nobra and 53 in Leh, he said.
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