Image for representation (PHOTO: REUTERS)
Srinagar: Two schools that were to serve as election centres in the bypoll to Anantnag Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday were gutted by anti-India protesters overnight, capping a violent weekend in the Valley that saw eight deaths.
The incident was the fourth arson attack reported in the Valley where bypolls to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat were held on Sunday. The bypoll saw dismal turnout of 6.5% as sporadic violence, clashes and attacks on polling booths kept voters away.
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Eight protesters were killed when the security forces opened fire during the voting process. While two people each were killed Pakherpora in Chrar-e- Sharief and Beerwah areas of Budgam district, two more deaths were reported from Chadoora area of the same district and another in Magam town, which is known as the gateway to Gulmarg. Another person was killed in Barsoo in Ganderbal district.
Mobs attacked the polling stations, damaging the EVMs and ransacking the polling stations, at nearly 100 places in Budgam.
Separatists have called a two-day shutdown and protest against the civilian deaths.
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Late on Sunday, security forces also foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir and killed four terrorists. “A major infiltration bid from across the LoC was foiled by the Army troops in Keran sector yesterday (Sunday) evening,” Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told IANS.
“A search operation is going on in the area,” he said.