Moderate polling was recorded in the nine constituencies of the Kashmir Valley which went to polls in the second of the five-phase Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. Nearly 5% voter turn out was recorded in the first one hour. Polling was by and large peaceful. About 16.32% turnout was recorded in the first two hours in 20 Jharkhand Assembly constituencies across seven Maoist-hit districts where polling was underway today in the second phase.

Voting for the second phase of elections in 18 seats in Jammu and Kashmir and 20 spread across seven Maoist-hit tribal districts of Jharkhand began on Tuesday morning, amid tight security. The polling will seal the fate of several high-profile candidates including two former chief ministers, seven state ministers and a former separatist.

Security has been stepped up to foil any attempts by militants to disrupt the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir, which has witnessed the killing of a sarpanch in Shopian district last night.

As many as 18 Assembly segments, spread over five districts -- two in the Valley and three in Jammu region are polling to decide the fate of 175 candidates which includes the lone woman minister in the National Conference-Congress coalition government Sakina Ittoo.

In Jharkhand, former chief ministers Arjun Munda and Madhu Koda and three ministers are among 223 candidates, including 35 women, contesting from 20 seats-- 16 of them reserved for tribals. Jharkhand has an 81-member Assembly.

Of the 18 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district will be in focus as separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Gani Lone is making debut in Assembly polls after unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha polls in 2009.