Srinagar, Dec 24 : Polling for the seventh and final phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir began this morning.

Voting is being held in 11 assembly segments of Jammu district, two assembly constituencies of Samba district and eight constituencies of Srinagar district.

The fate of 393 candidates, including 31 women, will be decided.

Some of the candidates who are contesting from Jammu include Ajat Shatru Singh (National Conference), son of Congress leader Karan Singh from Nagrota, Raman Bhalla of the INC, Ashok Khajuria of BJP, Chaman Lal Gupta of BJP and Mangat Ram Sharma of the INC.

From Srinagar, candidates include Farooq Abdullah of the NC, Ali Mohammed Sagar of the NC and Tariq Hamid Karra of the PDP.

Over 21,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth and fair elections in Jammu and Samba districts.

Twenty companies of para-military forces comprising 1280 personnel have been pressed into service, while 11 companies with 704 men have been deputed in strong rooms.

Over 63 per cent polling was recorded in the sixth phase, which spread in the districts of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar in Jammu Division and Anantnag and Kulgam districts in Kashmir.

Approximately 57 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the fifth phase on Saturday. Polling took place in eleven constituencies in the districts of Kathua, Shopian and Pulwama.

An estimated 55 per cent of the 14 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the fourth phase of polling on December 7.

Despite the call by separatists for election boycott, 64 per cent participated in the first phase.

At least 65 per cent voting was recorded during the second phase of polling.

In the first four phases, the number of candidates showed a marked increase this time as compared to 2002. In the Kashmir division the number has gone up to more than double.

The results will be declared on December 28. (ANI)