J-K panchayat polls: Voting in fourth phase underway amid heavy security

Polling in the fourth of the nine phases of panchayat elections is underway in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday amid heavy security arrangements. Voting is being held at 2,618 polling stations, including 639 in the Kashmir division and 1,979 in the Jammu division, officials said. The polling started at 8 am and would end at 2 pm.

As many as 777 polling stations -- 571 in the Kashmir division and 206 in the Jammu division -- have been categorised as hypersensitive. Of the total, 5,470 candidates are in the fray for 339 sarpanch seats and 1,749 panch seats in this phase.  

#JammuAndKashmir: Voting is underway for the fourth phase of Panchayat elections in the state. Visuals from a polling station in Noorkhan Bijhama in Baramulla district. pic.twitter.com/L7ojYNlgyo

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2018

In the first phase that was held on November 17, 74.1 per cent polling was recorded across the state, including 64.5 per cent in the Kashmir division and 79.4 per cent in the Jammu division. 

On November 20, the second phase was held. Overall 71.1 per cent polling was recorded in the state, with 80.4 per cent in the Jammu division and 52.2 per cent in the Kashmir division.

In the third phase, the state recorded a 75.2 per cent polling. The Kashmir division recorded 55.7 per cent and the Jammu division 83.0 per cent.  The officials said all arrangements, including those related to security, have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the polls.