Six die in Indian Kashmir poll violence
Police open fire as protesters storm voting booths
SRINAGAR, INDIA // Six civilians were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir yesterday when police opened fire at protesters who stormed polling stations at a parliamentary by-election.
State and paramilitary police fired bullets and shotgun pellets as thousands of protesters shouting slogans against Indian rule charged into voting booths in Budgam district near the main city of Srinagar.
“Violent protests happened at many places in Budgam. Protesters damaged and snatched electronic voting machines at some places,” said Shantmanu , the state’s chief electoral officer.
“It was not a good day for all of us. Six civilians were killed and 70 were wounded.” Mr Shantmanu said more than 100 government personnel including police and paramilitary officers were injured in the clashes
Two people were killed in the Charare-e-Sharif area of Budgam when the Border Security Force fired at protesters, he said. In the Beerwah area of the same district, the paramilitary police force opened fire at a stone- throwing crowd, killing another person.
Three more were killed in the clashes, with two of them succumbing to injuries from the pellets fired by Indian forces in Kashmir for crowd control.
Polling had to be halted in at least 10 places amid a call by Kashmiri separatist leaders to boycott the by-election.
Former state chief minister Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting the Srinagar seat, blasted the government for its failure to maintain law and order. “This government has failed in giving a peaceful atmosphere for people to come and vote,” he said.
Ahead of the polling, authorities suspended internet services across the Kashmir Valley for fear of widespread protests.
Police had also detained hundreds of young people and separatist activists in the run-up to the poll, sources said. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in its entirety.
Rebel groups in Indian Kashmir have for decades battled troops and police, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan.
About 500,000 Indian soldiers are deployed in the region.
Ahead of yesterday’s polling,
Polling was suspended in at least 10 places
the Indian government had sent in 20,000 extra paramilitaries. Armed encounters between rebels and government forces have become more frequent since the killing of a popular rebel leader by security forces last July.
Police and army officials said dozens of youths have joined the rebel ranks since then.
Twenty-nine armed militants, mostly locals, have died fighting government forces this year.