Three youths were killed and several injured when security forces opened fire on a stone-pelting mob that stormed a polling station in Budgam district in this Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday, disrupting polling which saw an abysmally low 3.3 per cent turnout till 11 am.
Hundreds of protesters stormed a polling station at Pakherpora in Chrar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district and ransacked the building, officials said.
Security forces fired several warning rounds to disperse the mob which did not relent.
Six persons were injured in the firing, of whom two later succumbed to injuries. Those killed were later identified as 20-year-old Mohammad Abbas and 15-year-old Faizaan Ahmad Rather, the officials said, adding both died of bullet wounds.
In another incident, security forces opened fire to quell a stone-pelting mob in Ratxuna Beerwah area, leaving one Nissar Ahmed dead.
The officials said the BSF, deployed for security of the polling stations, fired live rounds as they were not provided with pellet guns.
Violence marred polling in some other parts of the Srinagar parliamentary seat as polling staff and security force personnel were forced to abandon two polling stations in Chadoora assembly segment as they came under heavy stone-pelting by mobs, the officials said.
Stone pelting incidents were reported from over two dozen other places across the three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal which constitute the Srinagar constituency, the officials said.
Representational image. Reuters
The voter turnout has been low so far with only 3.3 percent of the 12.61 lakh electorate exercising their franchise in the first four hours of polling, the officials said.
Even in traditionally high turnout areas like Budgam, Ichgam and Maloora, many voters chose to give polling a miss.
Earlier in the day, miscreants started pelting stones on polling booths in some areas of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. Police officials said that in Wakura area of Ganderbal Assembly constituency, a polling station was without electricity and as the Power Development Department linemen tried to rectify the snag, some miscreants pelted stones on them.
Meanwhile, normal life was affected in the three poll-bound districts of the Valley due to a strike called by separatist groups, who have asked people to stay away from the election process.
Most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments in the districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal were shut, while public transport was off the roads, the official said.
However, police officials said that few private cars were seen plying in these areas. The government had declared a holiday for today in these three districts.
Nine candidates are in the fray for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat where more than 1,500 polling stations have been set up for nearly 12.61 lakh electorate.
All the polling stations had been declared as either sensitive or hyper-sensitive keeping in mind threats from various militant outfits and separatist groups, including the Hurriyat Conference, an election official said.
The seat fell vacant following resignation of PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra, both from the Lower House of Parliament and his party, in protest against the "atrocities" on people
during the agitation in the summer last year in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is the candidate of his party and the Congress jointly, will take on the ruling PDP's candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan in a virtual direct contest.
Abdullah tasted his first electoral defeat in his over 35-year-long political career when he lost to Karra in 2014 general elections. Karra, who has since joined the Congress, is now supporting the National Conference president in the bypolls.
Khan, on the other hand, joined the PDP after quitting the Congress in February and was announced the candidate by the ruling party for the bypolls.
Voter turnout in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 polls was 26 per cent, slightly better than 25.55 per cent recorded in 2009 elections.
Madhya Pradesh
The car belonging to Congress candidate for the Ater Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh was vandalised, while two other candidates were beaten up. Congress has accused the BJP of abetting the vandalism. The report also suggested that booth capturing and stone-pelting had taken place during the bypoll in Madhya Pradesh.
However, timely intervention by Madhya Pradesh Police helped bring the situation under control.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission removed six police officials from Ater after Congress candidate Hemant Katare compalined of them threatening people.
The constituency was in news recently after the media reported that VVPAT was only dispensing slips of BJP symbol during a demonstration exercise. The Election Commission had also sought a detailed report from the district election authorities in Bhind on this issue.
With inputs from PTI
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Updated Date: Apr 09, 2017 20:10:13 IST
Highlights
Littipara Assembly Constituency in Jharkhand records 68% voter turnout: PTI
According to PTI, altogether 68 per cent polling was registered in the by-election to Littipara Assembly constituency amidst tight security, officials said.
Polling was conducted peacefully. Ten contestants including Hemlal Murmu of the Bharatiya Janata PartyBJP) and Simon Marandi of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) fought in the by-poll. The by-election to Littipara Assembly seat was necessitated following the passing away of JMM MLA Anil Murmu on 17 January.
Re-poll likely in 50-100 polling stations: Shantmanu, CEO, J&K
Jammu and Kashmir chief electoral officer Shantmanu, said that a re-poll is likely in Sringar considering the poor voter turnout.
"I cannot say anything about the repoll as of now; the figure can be anywhere around 50 or 100 polling stations or more than that," he told PTI.
Srinagar reports poor voter turnout at 6.5 percent: PTI
According to chief electoral officer Shantanu, Srinagar reported a poor 6.5 percent voter turnout on Sunday during the by-poll for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, PTI said.
Focus now shifts to Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll
Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency will go to polls on Wednesday. The bypoll was necessitated after Mehbooba Mufti resigned from her Lok Sabha seat to become Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister. The ruling PDP has fielded Mufti's brother Tassaduq Hussain Mufti as its candidate.
After six deaths, Kashmiri separatists call for strike
Separatists call for 2-day strike from tomorrow in J&K to protest the death of 6 persons during voting for Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls.
PTI
Dholpur Assembly constituency witnesses high turnout until 4 pm
Rajasthan's Dholpur constituency has witnessed a high turnout of 69.02 percent until 4 pm on Sunday. The voting will continue till 6 pm.
A total of nearly 1.91 lakh voters are eligible to cast votes in the bypoll, of which nearly 1.18 lakh are men and 90,000 are women.
A total of 15 candidates are in the fray. Apart from BJP candidate Shobha Rani and Congress' Banwari Lal Sharma, 13 other candidates are contesting.
PTI
AAP claims confusion over voting dates led to low turnout
AAP candidate Harjeet Singh alleged that the election commission was "lax" in responding to complaints of EVM malfunction in a few polling stations.
"Many people confused the date with that of the municipal polls. There is a complete lack of awareness. On top of that voting machines have malfunctioned in four to five centres but the election office is taking time to respond. Police is also quite uncooperative," Singh told PTI.
PTI
Farooq Abdullah slams Jammu and Kashmir government over election-related violence
Former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday remarked that the deaths due to firing by security forces showed "how much the situation has deteriorated". He said people had died in Budgam district and many were injured by pellet guns and added, "It shows the situation has worsened. We hope that the polling will take place as we go on and the people will be able to express their opinion".
PTI
Polling crosses 50% in Kanthi Dakshin in West Bengal
Around 52 percent votes were cast in six hours in the Kanthi Dakshin assembly by-poll in West Bengal on Sunday. The police also added hat the polling was peaceful. Over 2.07 lakh voters, including around one lakh women and one belonging to the third gender, are eligible to choose their representative from among five candidates.
IANS
Abysmal voter turnout in Srinagar
The voter turnout in Srinagar had been just 5.52 percent till 2 pm. Four youths have been killed so far after security forces fired at violent mobs disrupting polling booths across the parliamentary constituency.
PTI
Death toll rises to four in Srinagar firing
The fourth person, identified as Shabir Ahmed, was killed in firing by security personnel at the Daulatpura in Chadoora assembly segment of Budgam district.
Security force personnel were forced to abandon two polling stations in Chadoora area as they came under heavy stone-pelting by mobs, the officials said.
The officials said the BSF, deployed for security of the polling stations, fired live rounds as they were not provided with pellet guns.
PTI
Healthy turnout in Himachal pradesh's Bhoranj Assembly bypoll
The bypoll for the assembly seat of Bhoranj in Himachal Pradesh saw 47 percent voting till 1 pm. on Sunday, officials said. Leader of Opposition and two-time BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his wife were among those who exercised their franchise. Five candidates, including three Independents, are in the fray. The main contest is between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
IANS
50% polling in Rajasthan's Dholpur by-polls
Around 50 percent polling was registered till afternoon across 231 polling stations for the Dholpur Assembly by-polls in Rajasthan on Sunday.The main contest is between BJP's Shobha Rani Kushavah, wife of the convicted BSP leader, and Congress party's Banwari Lal Sharma, a former minister.
IANS
Low voter turnout witnessed in Rajouri Garden bypoll
Only 21.73 % voting has been recorded till 1:00pm in Rajouri Garden Assembly poll. The bypoll was necessitated after Jarnail SIngh of the Aam Aadmi Party resigned to fight former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in the 2017 Punjab elections.
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief alleges BJP of booth capturing
State Congress chief Arun Yadav, at a press conference, alleged that, "Seeing its imminent defeat, the BJP has been desperately trying to capture booths." Yadav also alleged that the BJP was using the administration to affect the electoral process.
PTI
Congress alleges its Ater candidate was fired at
Stray incidents of violence were reported in the bypoll underway at Madhya Pradesh's Ater Assembly seat with the Congress alleging that its candidate, Hemant Katare, was attacked by the BJP workers and gunshots were fired at him.
PTI
Over 11% turnout in Rajouri Garden bypoll till 11 am
"The first few hours saw very less people turning up. However, the momentum appeared to have picked up after 10.30 am. 11.02 per cent of the electorate cast their votes till 11 am," said top officials in Chief Electoral Office of Delhi.
PTI
Violence erupts in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind
According to India Today, violent clashes took place outside between two communities outside a poll booth in Ater. Atleast six people are reported to have been injured in the clashes.
Voter turnout in Bandhavgarh
According to India Today, the voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Assembly constituency is 37% till 1 pm.
37 percent voter turnout in Kanthi Dakshin till 11.30 am
Voters, a large number of them women, were seen standing before 258 booths spread across the constituency since the morning braving heat and humidity. The by-election is being held after TMC MLA Dibyendu Adhikari's election to the Lok Sabha from Tamluk seat.
PTI
43.5 percent voter turnout until 1 pm in Assam's Dhemaji constituency
A total of five candidates are in the fray with the main contest likely to take place between BJP's Ranoj Pegu and Congress' Babul Sonowal.The bypoll was necessitated following the election of BJP MLA Pradan Baruah as MP from Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat after Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal vacated his Parliamentary seat.
PTI
Rajouri Garden bypoll a referendum on Arvind Kejriwal govt: Congress
"This by-poll is very important and the Congress will win this election. The contest is mainly between the Congress and the BJP. This is directly parliamentary election. This is a referendum on Kejriwal's two years' work," Ajay Maken, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief said.
PTI
Here are all Assembly constituencies where voting is underway
Rajouri Garden (Delhi)
Litipara (Jharkhand)
Nanjangud and Gundlupet (Karnataka)
Dholpur (Rajasthan)
Kanthi Dakshin (West Bengal)
Ater and Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh)
Bhoranj (Himachal Pradesh)
Dhemaii (Assam).
Srinagar bypoll takes a bloody turn
Three youths were killed after security forces fired on a mob which tried to enter a polling station in Srinagar. Stone-pelting ahd been reported across Srinagar since morning.
18:54 (IST)
Six civilians killed, more than 100 security personnel injured in violent clashes
A charred polling staff bus following an attack by a group of protesters at Nowgam during voting for Srinagar bypoll on Sunday. Six civilians were killed and more than 100 security personnel injured in violent clashes in Srinagar on Sunday. The by-poll saw a very poor voter turnout of 6.5 percent.
18:42 (IST)
Littipara Assembly Constituency in Jharkhand records 68% voter turnout: PTI
According to PTI, altogether 68 per cent polling was registered in the by-election to Littipara Assembly constituency amidst tight security, officials said.
Polling was conducted peacefully. Ten contestants including Hemlal Murmu of the Bharatiya Janata PartyBJP) and Simon Marandi of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) fought in the by-poll. The by-election to Littipara Assembly seat was necessitated following the passing away of JMM MLA Anil Murmu on 17 January.
18:30 (IST)
Bypoll in Anantnag to be a bigger challenge: J&K CEO
After a poor voter turnout in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir CEO, Shantmanu told PTI that Anantnag in south Kashmir which goes to poll on 12 April is likely to be a bigger challenge.
18:26 (IST)
Re-poll likely in 50-100 polling stations: Shantmanu, CEO, J&K
Jammu and Kashmir chief electoral officer Shantmanu, said that a re-poll is likely in Sringar considering the poor voter turnout.
"I cannot say anything about the repoll as of now; the figure can be anywhere around 50 or 100 polling stations or more than that," he told PTI.
18:18 (IST)
Srinagar reports poor voter turnout at 6.5 percent: PTI
According to chief electoral officer Shantanu, Srinagar reported a poor 6.5 percent voter turnout on Sunday during the by-poll for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, PTI said.
17:34 (IST)
Poor turnout in Rajouri Gardens Assembly constituency throughout the day
The Assembly bypoll in the Rajouri Garden constituency recorded poor turnout of 35 per cent till 3 pm on Sunday, with polling stations across the west Delhi seat remaining largely desolate.
First few hours saw few turn up with only around 11.02 percent of the nearly 1.6 lakh electorate trooping out to exercise their franchise till 11 am.
PTI
17:24 (IST)
Focus now shifts to Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll
Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency will go to polls on Wednesday. The bypoll was necessitated after Mehbooba Mufti resigned from her Lok Sabha seat to become Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister. The ruling PDP has fielded Mufti's brother Tassaduq Hussain Mufti as its candidate.
17:12 (IST)
After six deaths, Kashmiri separatists call for strike
Separatists call for 2-day strike from tomorrow in J&K to protest the death of 6 persons during voting for Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls.
PTI
17:02 (IST)
Dholpur Assembly constituency witnesses high turnout until 4 pm
Rajasthan's Dholpur constituency has witnessed a high turnout of 69.02 percent until 4 pm on Sunday. The voting will continue till 6 pm.
A total of nearly 1.91 lakh voters are eligible to cast votes in the bypoll, of which nearly 1.18 lakh are men and 90,000 are women.
A total of 15 candidates are in the fray. Apart from BJP candidate Shobha Rani and Congress' Banwari Lal Sharma, 13 other candidates are contesting.
PTI
16:54 (IST)
AAP claims confusion over voting dates led to low turnout
AAP candidate Harjeet Singh alleged that the election commission was "lax" in responding to complaints of EVM malfunction in a few polling stations.
"Many people confused the date with that of the municipal polls. There is a complete lack of awareness. On top of that voting machines have malfunctioned in four to five centres but the election office is taking time to respond. Police is also quite uncooperative," Singh told PTI.
PTI
16:42 (IST)
Farooq Abdullah slams Jammu and Kashmir government over election-related violence
Former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday remarked that the deaths due to firing by security forces showed "how much the situation has deteriorated". He said people had died in Budgam district and many were injured by pellet guns and added, "It shows the situation has worsened. We hope that the polling will take place as we go on and the people will be able to express their opinion".
PTI
16:32 (IST)
Polling crosses 50% in Kanthi Dakshin in West Bengal
Around 52 percent votes were cast in six hours in the Kanthi Dakshin assembly by-poll in West Bengal on Sunday. The police also added hat the polling was peaceful. Over 2.07 lakh voters, including around one lakh women and one belonging to the third gender, are eligible to choose their representative from among five candidates.
IANS
16:22 (IST)
Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur casts his vote
16:20 (IST)
Latest death toll at 5
16:17 (IST)
Abysmal voter turnout in Srinagar
The voter turnout in Srinagar had been just 5.52 percent till 2 pm. Four youths have been killed so far after security forces fired at violent mobs disrupting polling booths across the parliamentary constituency.
PTI
16:13 (IST)
Dhemaji bypoll voter turnout crosses 50%
Assam's Dhemaji Assembly seat has witnessed a healthy 56.35 percent voter turnout until 3 pm. The constituency has over two lakh voters. Returning Officer Roshni Aparanji Korati told PTI that no untoward incident has been reported.
PTI
16:05 (IST)
Death toll rises to four in Srinagar firing
The fourth person, identified as Shabir Ahmed, was killed in firing by security personnel at the Daulatpura in Chadoora assembly segment of Budgam district.
Security force personnel were forced to abandon two polling stations in Chadoora area as they came under heavy stone-pelting by mobs, the officials said.
The officials said the BSF, deployed for security of the polling stations, fired live rounds as they were not provided with pellet guns.
PTI
16:03 (IST)
Live streaming of election proceedings
The Jammu and Kashmir CEO has begun live streaming of some of the polling booths for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. You can follow them here.
15:42 (IST)
Voter turnout in Dhemaji bypoll
15:37 (IST)
Healthy turnout in Himachal pradesh's Bhoranj Assembly bypoll
The bypoll for the assembly seat of Bhoranj in Himachal Pradesh saw 47 percent voting till 1 pm. on Sunday, officials said. Leader of Opposition and two-time BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his wife were among those who exercised their franchise. Five candidates, including three Independents, are in the fray. The main contest is between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
IANS
15:33 (IST)
50% polling in Rajasthan's Dholpur by-polls
Around 50 percent polling was registered till afternoon across 231 polling stations for the Dholpur Assembly by-polls in Rajasthan on Sunday.The main contest is between BJP's Shobha Rani Kushavah, wife of the convicted BSP leader, and Congress party's Banwari Lal Sharma, a former minister.
IANS
15:16 (IST)
Low voter turnout witnessed in Rajouri Garden bypoll
Only 21.73 % voting has been recorded till 1:00pm in Rajouri Garden Assembly poll. The bypoll was necessitated after Jarnail SIngh of the Aam Aadmi Party resigned to fight former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in the 2017 Punjab elections.
15:12 (IST)
Voter turnout update from Karnataka's Nanjangud
14:59 (IST)
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief alleges BJP of booth capturing
State Congress chief Arun Yadav, at a press conference, alleged that, "Seeing its imminent defeat, the BJP has been desperately trying to capture booths." Yadav also alleged that the BJP was using the administration to affect the electoral process.
PTI
14:57 (IST)
Congress alleges its Ater candidate was fired at
Stray incidents of violence were reported in the bypoll underway at Madhya Pradesh's Ater Assembly seat with the Congress alleging that its candidate, Hemant Katare, was attacked by the BJP workers and gunshots were fired at him.
PTI
14:49 (IST)
Over 11% turnout in Rajouri Garden bypoll till 11 am
"The first few hours saw very less people turning up. However, the momentum appeared to have picked up after 10.30 am. 11.02 per cent of the electorate cast their votes till 11 am," said top officials in Chief Electoral Office of Delhi.
PTI
14:44 (IST)
Violence erupts in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind
According to India Today, violent clashes took place outside between two communities outside a poll booth in Ater. Atleast six people are reported to have been injured in the clashes.
14:39 (IST)
Voter turnout in Bandhavgarh
According to India Today, the voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Assembly constituency is 37% till 1 pm.
14:16 (IST)
Rajouri Garden constituency in Delhi records 11% turnout in first three hours
The assembly bypoll to the Rajouri Garden constituency recorded 11.02 percent turnout in the first three hours.
"The first few hours saw very less people turning up. However, the momentum appeared to have picked up after 10.30 am. 11.02 percent of the electorate cast their votes till 11 am," said top officials in the Chief Electoral Office of Delhi.
"The polling has so far been peaceful and there were no reports of any untoward incident," the officials said. — PTI
13:53 (IST)
Chief Electoral Officer, Madhya Pradesh on poll violence
13:48 (IST)
37 percent voter turnout in Kanthi Dakshin till 11.30 am
Voters, a large number of them women, were seen standing before 258 booths spread across the constituency since the morning braving heat and humidity. The by-election is being held after TMC MLA Dibyendu Adhikari's election to the Lok Sabha from Tamluk seat.
PTI
13:44 (IST)
43.5 percent voter turnout until 1 pm in Assam's Dhemaji constituency
A total of five candidates are in the fray with the main contest likely to take place between BJP's Ranoj Pegu and Congress' Babul Sonowal.The bypoll was necessitated following the election of BJP MLA Pradan Baruah as MP from Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat after Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal vacated his Parliamentary seat.
PTI
13:38 (IST)
Rajouri Garden bypoll a referendum on Arvind Kejriwal govt: Congress
"This by-poll is very important and the Congress will win this election. The contest is mainly between the Congress and the BJP. This is directly parliamentary election. This is a referendum on Kejriwal's two years' work," Ajay Maken, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief said.
PTI
13:31 (IST)
Here are all Assembly constituencies where voting is underway
Rajouri Garden (Delhi)
Litipara (Jharkhand)
Nanjangud and Gundlupet (Karnataka)
Dholpur (Rajasthan)
Kanthi Dakshin (West Bengal)
Ater and Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh)
Bhoranj (Himachal Pradesh)
Dhemaii (Assam).
13:26 (IST)
The Abdullah family votes in Srinagar
13:25 (IST)
National Conference candidate Farooq Abdullah slams govt for failing to hold peaceful election
13:23 (IST)
Omar Abdullah reacts to poll violence
13:19 (IST)
Congress accuses BJP of poll booth capturing in Madhya Pradesh
13:14 (IST)
Srinagar bypoll takes a bloody turn
Three youths were killed after security forces fired on a mob which tried to enter a polling station in Srinagar. Stone-pelting ahd been reported across Srinagar since morning.