More than 58.67 per cent voters, an increase of about 10 per cent from 2002 assembly polls, cast their votes in the fourth round of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] assembly polls on Sunday, an official spokesman said in Srinagar [Images].

It was a jump of more than 10 per cent in the 18 assembly constituencies of the state which went to polls on Sunday over the poll percentage recorded in 2002 assembly elections, he said.

Nearly 8.21 lakh voters, comprising 58.67 per cent of the eligible electorate, cast their votes in the fourth phase of assembly elections, the spokesman said. In 2002, the poll percentage was 48.34 per cent.

Almost all the constituencies witnessed an increase in turnout figures ranging between five to 25 per cent. Khansahib, which had recorded 49 per cent turn out in 2002 polls, witnessed 74.80 per cent this year.

Chennani in Udhampur district and Rafiabad in Baramulla district were the only two constituencies which saw the dip in poll percentage this year compared to previous elections but it was just marginal. Chennani took a dip of three per cent while Rafiabad saw a decrease of 0.91 per cent.

Uri in Baramulla district recorded the highest turnout of 82 per cent among the 12 constituencies of the Kashmir valley. Khansahib and Chrar-e-Sharief constituencies of Budgam district both recorded turnout of more than 74 per cent each.

Chadoora and Budgam constituencies recorded 55 per cent each while Beerwah segment witnessed 51 per cent voter turnout.

Gulmarg (58.70 per cent), Rafiabad (51.63 per cent), Pattan (50.30 per cent) and Sangrama (47 per cent) constituencies in Baramulla district also recorded good poll

percentage.

Baramulla town constituency and Sopore recorded low voter turnout of 33.29 per cent and 18.89 per cent respectively, but the figures were far better than those obtained in last

assembly elections held six years ago. Baramulla polled 24 per cent while Sopore saw a turnout of just 8.09 per cent then.

Heavy voter turnout was recorded in all three constituencies of newly-created Reasi district with Gulabgarh posting a high turnout of 77.80 per cent followed by Gool-Arnas (75.40 per cent) and Reasi at 73.70 per cent.

Surprisingly, the three constituencies in Udhampur district witnessed a lesser voter turnout than some of the valley constituencies despite intense campaigning there by all

the major political parties. Udhampur recorded 67 per cent followed by Ram Nagar (63.15 per cent) and Chennani at 57.39 per cent.

All the districts saw an increase in poll percentage this year; Barmulla district had an overall percentage of 47.60 per cent this year compared to 37.53 per cent last time while

Budgam district recorded 61.24 per cent against 46 per cent in 2002 elections.

Six assembly seats of Udhampur and Reasi districts, which were one administrative unit in 2002, recorded a combined turn out of 68.26 per cent this year compared to last elections' 59.67 per cent.

Individually, Reasi district recorded 75.29 per cent turnout while Udhampur district witnessed 62.90 per cent.