Srinagar/Jammu (PTI): Ignoring separatists' call for poll boycott and braving freezing cold, an estimated 44.62 per cent of the nearly five-lakh-strong electorate exercised their franchise till Sunday afternoon in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections which will decide the fate of National Conference chief Omar Abdullah.

In a minor clash in Darhal constituency, one of the six seats that went to polls today, in Rajouri district, police fired in the air to disperse activists of the NC and supporters of an independent candidate who clashed and pelted stones at each other, a senior police officer said. Two persons were injured.

There was also disruption of balloting in the constituency (Darhal) as an independent candidate alleged booth capturing by NC workers. There were also reports of minor clashes between PDP and NC workers in the constituency.

Ganderbal, where Abdullah is locked in a multi-cornered battle, registered a slow voting pace with 35 per cent of the electorate turning up at the polling stations, apparently due to the cold wave conditions.

While around 48 per cent voters cast their ballots in the four constituencies of Rajouri, Kalakote, Darhal and Nowshera in Rajouri district, 35 per cent registered their choice in the two constituencies of Ganderbal and Kangan in Ganderbal district till 2 PM, the officials monitoring the polls told PTI.

The separatists co-ordination committee had given a call for 'Jehan election waha challo' (march to where elections are). But apparently the march to Ganderbal did not materialise due to heavy deployment of security forces.

They said Kalakote and Rajouri witnessed the high turnout of 50 per cent each followed by 49 per cent in Darhal and 46 per cent in Nowshera assembly segments.