Srinagar /
Eight civilians were killed during clashes with security forces in various areas of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on poll day for bye elections to Srinagar Parliamentary constituency today. The Srinagar Parliamentary constituency witnessed lowest voter turnout. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives during today’s polling. She said peaceful means and not violence are the only way ahead for getting the State out of the present difficulties.
The bypoll for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat saw the voter turnout plunge to an all-time low of 6.5 per cent.
Rampaging mobs took to streets in scores of places across the Lok Sabha constituency straddling Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts, perpetrating wanton violence and arson, even setting ablaze a polling station and attempting to set on fire two others, amid a boycott called by the separatists.
While two people each were killed Pakherpora in Chrar-e- Sharief and Beerwah areas of Budgam district, one death was reported from Chadoora area of the same district and another in Magam town, which is known as the gateway to Gulmarg.
Almost 70 per cent of the polling booths in Budgam district were abandoned by the polling staff due to the spate of violent protests in several areas, officials said.
Army was called out to help security forces quell a rampaging mob which pelted stones and hurled petrol bombs to set a polling booth ablaze in the Ganderbal district of the Srinagar constituency.
“The tentative voter turnout for the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is 6.5 per cent,” Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu told reporters at the conclusion of polling.
The seat had recorded 26 per cent polling in the 2014 general elections. In the 1989 election, National Conference’s Mohammad Shafi Bhat had won the seat uncontested.
The previous lowest turnout in the prestigious seat was 11.93 per cent in 1999 when Omar Abdullah had defeated Mehbooba Mufti in a straight contest.
The state’s former chief minister and National Conference stalwart Farooq Abdullah, who had lost the seat in the 2014 election, is locked in a straight fight with ruling PDP’s Nazir Ahmad Khan even though there are seven other candidates in the fray.
“There were more than 200 incidents of violence in the constituency, mostly in Budgam district, which included stone-pelting, petrol bomb attacks, setting ablaze of a polling station, some vehicles and attempt to burn two other polling stations,” Shantmanu said. “It was not a good day as you know. Six lives were lost in these incidents of violence… 17 civilians were injured, while over 100 paramilitary and police personnel also sustained injuries,” he said.
Reports said sporadic violent clashes occurred at around four dozen places in various areas in Srinagar and Budgam districts. Official sources said more than 100 police and para military personnel were wounded during day long clashes with the protesters.
Srinagar Parliamentary constituency comprises of 15 assembly segments in three central Kashmir districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal.
Nine candidates are in fray while former Chief Minister and National Conference- Congress joint candidate Dr Farooq Abdullah and ruling PDP’s Nazir Khan are the main contestants. Majority of the over 1500 polling stations in the constituency particularly in Srinagar and Budgam had been categorized as sensitive and hyper sensitive by the Election Commission.
Polling for by-elections to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat and 10 Assembly constituencies in nine states ended at 5.00 pm today. In the Centre state of Madhya Pradesh, by-poll was held in Bandhavgarh Assembly seat in Umaria district and Ater segment of Bhind. In Delhi, voting was held for Rajouri Garden Assembly seat. The seat fell vacant following resignation of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Jarnail Singh. In the northern state of Rajasthan, polling was held peacefully for the Dholpur Assembly seat. In Himachal Pradesh polling for Bhoranj Assembly constituency in Hamirpur district was also held. Polling in northern state of Assam’s Dhemaji Assembly seat and eastern sate of West Bengal’s Kanthi Dakshin Assembly seat along with Nanjangud and Gundlupet in southern state of Karnataka, and Litiparah in Jharkhand were also held today. Counting for all the seats will take place on Thursday
Photo greater kashmir