Bypoll: 17 polling stations close due to clashes, 14 EVMs damaged in Srinagar LS seat

Srinagar, Apr 9: As many as 17 polling stations were closed after protestors clashed with security forces while 14 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were damaged or snatched during bypolls in Srinagar parliamentary constituency, where six teenagers were killed during anti-polling demonstrators.
Official sources told UNI that five polling stations were closed at Nowgam in Srinagar at around 1430 hrs after massive clashes erupted near these polling stations. “All the polling staff and EVMs were escorted and kept at Nowgam bypass, where security forces were deployed in strength,” they said.
They said three polling stations were forced to close in Bagh Mehtab in the city at around 1245 after protestors clashed with security forces. “One EVM was also snatched from one of the three polling stations in Bagh Mehtab,” they said, adding the polling staff was kept at Police station Chanapora.
Meanwhile, polling stations were also closed at Soibugh, Daharmuna, Sozeith and Paymus due to massive clashes.
Protestors locked a polling station in Government Middle School at Kolhama in Beerwah.
Similar reports of closing of polling station were also reports from some other parts of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
Meanwhile, official sources said 14 EVMs were damaged or snatched during the bypolls in Srinagar constituency, which is spread in three districts of Budgam, Srinagar and Ganderbal.