Srinagar, April 9 (IANS): At least eight civilians were killed and scores injured in firing by security forces as mobs tried to attack some polling stations in Srinagar parliamentary constituency that on Sunday recorded a poor seven per cent voting in a by-poll - the lowest in the state in three decades, officials said.
The by-poll to the Lok Sabha constituency -- spread across three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal -- was marred by widespread violence with police claiming that nearly 200 incidents of violent protests took place in central Kashmir.
As the day began with small queues of voters outside polling booths, slogan shouting mobs attacked polling stations in Budgam, damaged EVMs and prevented voters from exercising their franchise.
Security forces tried to disperse the crowds with warning shots initially and opened fire at them when they didn’t relent, a police officer said.
Seven persons were killed at three places of Budgam district and one in Ganderbal, where protestors clashed with security forces.
“It was an unfortunate day. Over 100 security personnel were injured. The turnout was 7.09 per cent,” Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu told media persons.
He also said that re-polling will be held at 100 polling stations that witnessed early closure due to violence.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was the worst poll-related violence he had seen in his 20 years of political career.
Abdullah hit out at the state government over the violence and accused Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of failing to provide a conducive atmosphere for voting.
Security was stepped up after separatists extended shutdown call till April 12 -- election day in south Kashmir, the authorities also decided to suspend the internet services and postphoned the university examinations scheduled.
