Srinagar, Apr 24: Kashmir valley witnessed polls in Anantnag on Thursdayamid clashes at various places in the constituency with protesters at various places throwing stones at polling booths.
According to the reports received by news agency, several members of the poling staff came under the direct attack of stone throwers in Pulwama district with the security forces firing in air to disperse the angry mob. Police also fired several tear gas shells to thwart the protest demonstration.
Reports informed further that the parliament member G.N. Ratanpuri’s cavalcade was attacked at Pulwama with the people throwing stones on the vehicles. Protesters didn’t spare the opposition peoples’ Democratic Party leader Showkat Gayoor in the area and he was attacked by the people. Correspondent informed that the loudspeakers of the mosques in Pulwama were used where from the slogans for boycott were raised. People were also asked by the protesters not to move outside their houses and enforce boycott.
Reports informed that at least eight CRPF personnel were injured with more than 14 vehicles damaged during the stone pelting incidents at various areas. A bus hired by the election commission was also attacked by the protesters at Muran area of the south Kashmir. The window panes of the vehicle were damaged. Stone pelting incidents were also reported from Koil, Arihal and Bandzoo.
Police cordoned various polling booths in the Shopian area after the protesters attacked the polling stations. Several protesters have also sustained minor injuries after they were chased away by the police this afternoon. According to the news agency district correspondents, Kulgam areas also remained tense with the deployment of security forces made in large number to thwart any untoward incident.
Reports also informed from the Kulgam area that some tussles erupted between the security forces and journalists. A photojournalist was injured after being reportedly hit by forces. A personal vehicle of another photojournalist was also damaged during the clashes allegedly by the forces. Anti election slogans were raised at several areas of Shopian with the people taking to streets in Bonbazar Shopian and raising anti-election and pro-boycott slogans.
Angry mob also attacked some security police personnel at Qoimoh during the stone pelting incidents that rocked the area since morning. Several CRPF personnel sustained stone injures when the protesters threw stones at them in the area. Police had to resort to lathi charge and tear shelling to control the crowd.
