<p>Voting for the eighth phase of the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls ended on Saturday with nearly 80% electorate exercising their right to franchise.</p>.<p>According to figures released by J&K chief electoral officer, total turnout in the state was recorded at 79.7% with 49.6 % turnout in Kashmir and 85.1% in Jammu division.</p>.<p>The polling began at 8 am at 2,633 polling stations — 550 in Kashmir and 2,083 in Jammu — and ended at 2 pm. At least 361 polling stations were categorised as hypersensitive — 171 in Kashmir and 190 in Jammu.</p>.<p>Due to militant threats, boycott calls by separatists and decision of regional parties, the PDP and the National Conference (NC) stayed away from the recently-concluded urban local bodies (ULB) polls, only 4.27% polling was witnessed in the Kashmir region, which was the lowest in any election held in the state since 1951.</p>.<p>However, the brisk voting in the eight phases of the nine-phase exercise was the reminder of 2011 polls when 82% of voters exercised their right to franchise. The polling for the last phase of the elections will be held on December 11. At least 4,400 sarpanchs (head of a village) and 29,000 panchs will be elected in Jammu and Kashmir.</p>.<p>While separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik have urged people to boycott these polls, militants have threatened to blind panchayat poll candidates with acid.</p>.<p>Authorities had made elaborate arrangements for holding violence-free polls with 200 companies of paramilitary forces, which were deployed for recently-held urban local body elections, re-deployed for the panchayat polls.</p>
<p>Voting for the eighth phase of the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls ended on Saturday with nearly 80% electorate exercising their right to franchise.</p>.<p>According to figures released by J&K chief electoral officer, total turnout in the state was recorded at 79.7% with 49.6 % turnout in Kashmir and 85.1% in Jammu division.</p>.<p>The polling began at 8 am at 2,633 polling stations — 550 in Kashmir and 2,083 in Jammu — and ended at 2 pm. At least 361 polling stations were categorised as hypersensitive — 171 in Kashmir and 190 in Jammu.</p>.<p>Due to militant threats, boycott calls by separatists and decision of regional parties, the PDP and the National Conference (NC) stayed away from the recently-concluded urban local bodies (ULB) polls, only 4.27% polling was witnessed in the Kashmir region, which was the lowest in any election held in the state since 1951.</p>.<p>However, the brisk voting in the eight phases of the nine-phase exercise was the reminder of 2011 polls when 82% of voters exercised their right to franchise. The polling for the last phase of the elections will be held on December 11. At least 4,400 sarpanchs (head of a village) and 29,000 panchs will be elected in Jammu and Kashmir.</p>.<p>While separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik have urged people to boycott these polls, militants have threatened to blind panchayat poll candidates with acid.</p>.<p>Authorities had made elaborate arrangements for holding violence-free polls with 200 companies of paramilitary forces, which were deployed for recently-held urban local body elections, re-deployed for the panchayat polls.</p>
