Srinagar: Polling for the second phase of the crucial Assembly elections spread over three districts of Jammu, Srinagar and Budgam comprising 28 constituencies began on September 24 morning amidst a general strike called by the separatist Hurriyat Conference and threats from militant groups.

Balloting began at 07:00 hours (IST) and an estimated 2.1 million voters are expected to exercise their franchise during the nine-hour polling to decide the fate of 263 candidates, which include National Conference (NC) chief Omar Abdullah and at least half a dozen key ministers of Farooq Abdullah government.

The tightest-ever security arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of polling at all 2,099 polling stations where poll personnel and materials had been despatched well in advance.

Besides the state police, dozens of companies of paramilitary forces with active assistance from the army were in readiness to subvert any attempt by militants to sabotage the polls.

PTI