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Violence mars Srinagar bypolls, 8 killed

By The Assam Tribune

NEW DELHI, April 9 - Violence today marred the polling in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency with at least eight people killed in firing by security forces while incidents of firing were reported from two places in Ater assembly seat in Madhya Predesh.

However, bypolls in two assembly constituencies each in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, one each in West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan and Delhi passed off peacefully.

In all, byelections were held in nine assembly constituencies in six states, besides the Srinagar parliamentary seat.

Stone-pelting was reported from over two dozen places across the three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal which constitute the Srinagar constituency. The main contestants for the seat are Dr Farooq Abdullah, the joint candidate of the National Conference and the Congress, and Nazir Ahmad Khan, the ruling PDP�s nominee.

Army was called in to assist security forces control a rampaging mob which pelted stones and hurled petrol bombs to set a polling booth ablaze in Ganderbal. More than 100 security force personnel were injured in the violence, officials said, adding that several civilians were also injured in police firing.

J-K Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu said a poor 6.5 per cent polling took place in the parliamentary seat. �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 reporters.

While two persons each were killed

at 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.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father Farooq later attacked the Mehbooba Mufti-led J&K government for having �completely failed� in ensuring smooth conduct of the polls.

Firing incidents were also reported from at two places in Madhya Pradesh after Congress and BJP workers clashed during the byelection in Ater assembly seat. The MP election commission, however, dismissed reports of booth capturing and said security was tightened after the incidents. � PTI

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