Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, Indian forces resorted to firing on protesters in Budgam district, today, as youth hurled stones on polling stations in the area.
Indian authorities sealed the area for voting for the sham Indian parliamentary elections on Srinagar constituency, today.
No vote was polled at Durpora Manigam Boys Middle School polling booth in Ganderbal till 11 am, while 12, 10 votes were respectively polled at two polling stations in Nunner area of Ganderbal district in central Kashmir.
In view of silence prevailing at polling stations due to absence of voters, India forces are making their utmost efforts to keep media persons at a bay. In this regard, police even snatched mobile phone of Rising Kashmir reporter Yawar Hussain when he tried to visit a polling booth in Nasrullahpora in Badgam district. He said that police men snatched his phone while discharging his professional duties.
All polling stations in Srinagar and Badgam have been declared as sensitive by the Election Commission of India because of anger prevailing among masses against India over the last year’s massacre.
Fearing protests and violence, police launched a crackdown in different parts and rounded up many youth, who have lodged at different police stations.
Media reports sad that only 11 out of 2147 votes were polled in three polling booth, 34, 35 and 36 in Sonwar area of Srinagar till filing of this report.
Nine candidates including National Conference President Farooq Abdullah are contesting the polls.
The Srinagar-Badgam seat fell vacant after Tariq Hameed Karra, resigned from LoK Sabha saying PDP had gone back on its ideals and was treating people much worse than Nazi forces and said that India was adding fuel to fire in the Valley with its arm-twisting attitude and imperialistic methods