Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir will witness polling in three phases due to security reasons, chief election commissioner Sunil Arora said on Sunday.

Close to Anantnag, in Awantipora district, a suicide bomb attack had killed 40 CRPF personnel on February 14 when a Jaish operative rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying them.

The Indian Air Force had carried out an air strike on a terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot, triggering a political war, the government had said.

There have been several encounters between militants and security forces in nearby areas.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had won the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 elections.

Elections for the six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases.

The election commissioner also made it clear that the assembly elections to the state will not be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

The state has been under President’s Rule since December, and under Governor’s rule since June, when BJP withdrew support to the coalition government with PDP.

Polling will be held in two constituencies of the state on April 11, the first date of elections. The other dates of elections in Jammu and Kashmir are April 18, 23, 29 and May 6.

The counting of votes will be held on May 23 along with those of all constituencies in the country.

First Published: Mar 10, 2019 19:21 IST