Kashmir phase ten panchayat polls end

Voting for the tenth phase of panchayat elections in five blocks of Kashmir and in six blocks of Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir ended on Saturday, officials said.

Encouraging numbers of voters flocked to poll booths in the Teethwal block of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Voting was also held in the Pattan block of Baramulla district and Hajin block of Bandipora district in north Kashmir.

The Kellar block in Pulwama district and in Dachnipora in Anantnag district of south Kashmir also went in to select the grassroots level representatives. West Kashmir?s Balakote block in the Poonch district went to poll too.

In the Jammu division of the state, polling was held in six blocks including Khor of Jammu district, Banihal block in Ramban district and Inderwal block in Kishtwar district. Two blocks of Doda district – Thatri and Asar – also voted on Saturday.

Polling for the staggered 16-phase panchayat elections, that are being held in state after ten years, began on Apr 13. The remaining six phases of polling will be held on May 25, May 29, June 2, June 6, June 11 and June 16.