Third phase of elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir records 28 percent polling

The polling for third phase of India's general elections in Indian- controlled Kashmir Thursday recorded a meagre 28 percent polling, officials said.

The elections were held amid tight security in Anantnag constituency. However the impact of boycott was manifest in most towns and villages in wake of boycott call from separatists.

In evening a polling staff official on election duty was killed and five others including his colleague and driver were wounded after militants attacked their vehicle at Nagbal-Zainapora in Shopian district, about 53 km south of Srinagar, the region's summer capital.

"Around 28 per cent electorate cast their vote in today's polling which concluded this evening," Umang Narula, chief electoral officer of Indian-controlled Kashmir said.

Narula addressed a press conference in Srinagar in evening after the culmination of polling.

According to Narula commission had set up 1615 polling booths at 1028 locations out of which 582 were declared hypersensitive.

Officials said for the constituency 12 candidates were in fray and 1301142 electors had to exercise their franchise.

Stone pelting and anti-India protests marred the third phase of elections and government forces used tear smoke shells and batons to disperse scores of young protesters who shouted anti-India slogans and threw brickbats to register their protest against Indian elections.

A senior police official attributed the lower voter turn out to killings of three people ahead of elections in the constituency.

Reports said over two dozen people including policemen were injured in clashes at various places throughout the day.

In Indian-controlled Kashmir, the ruling National Conference is in pre-poll alliance with India's Congress party. Analysts said the main contest was between the alliance candidate Mehboob Beg and opposition People Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti.

Compared to the first two phases, voting in the third phase was very low.

From Indian-controlled Kashmir only six members are elected for the 543-member lower house of Indian parliament known as Lok Sabha.

In ongoing elections the Congress party is seeking to regain power under leadership of Rahul Gandhithe fourth generation scion of India's powerful Nehru-Gandhi clan. He is facing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Narendra Modi.