Srinagar by-polls: 8 youth killed, several injured

Srinagar, Apr 9: Eight youth were killed and several others were injured in government forces firing in Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency, which recorded abysmally low 7.14 per cent voter turnout during bypolls today.
Hundreds of protestors took to streets at Barsoo in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal against the killing of seven youth earlier today in security force firing on stone-pelting demonstrators in Budgam.
However, when the protestors were moving towards the main chowk, government forces fired and burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators, who were pelting stones. Several youth were injured in the clashes. The injured were immediately taken to a hospital, where one of them, identified as 22-year-old Omar Farooq, succumbed.
Meanwhile, scores of protestors took to streets at Dawlatpora in Chadoora in Budgam, and tried to march towards the polling station to hold anti-election protests earlier in the day.      However, government forces deployed in the area to maintain law and order, swung into action and burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators, who were pelting stones. As the protestors didn’t back down, government forces fired at protestors in which several youth were injured. The injured were immediately taken to Sub-District Hospital Chadoora, where a youth, identified as Shabir Ahmad, succumbed.
Polling staff and government forces were even forced to abandon at least two polling stations in Chadoora in Budgam after the clashes intensified, official sources said.
Another youth, identified as Amir Mallah, was killed when security force firing at anti-polling protestors, who were pelting stones, at Sogam in Chadoora in Budgam.
Meanwhile, several protestors were injured when government forces burst teargas shells and fired pellets to disperse stone-pelting demonstrators at Check Kawoosa on Srinagar-Gulmarg road in Budgam. The injured were immediately taken to a hospital, where one of them identified as Adil Farooq, succumbed.
Massive clashers were also reported at Dalwan in Chrar-e-Sharief, where hundreds of protestors took to streets and tried to march towards their polling station to hold anti-election protest. However, government forces deployed in the area burst teargas shells and fired at the protestors, who were pelting stones.
Several protestors were injured in the clashes. The injured were immediately taken to a local hospital from where two of them were rushed to SHMS hospital, Srinagar in critical condition.
However, one of the two youth, identified as 20-year-old Tausef Ahmad, succumbed to his injuries. The second youth, identified as 15-year-old Faizan Ahmad was later referred to S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), where he succumbed.
Scores of protestors were also injured when government forces fired at demonstrators, who were pelting stone, at Beerwah in Budgam. The injured were immediately taken to a local hospital, where one of them, identified as 19-year-old Akib Ahmad Wani, who had a bullet injury to his head, was declared brought dead. Another injured, identified as Nissar Ahmad succumbed in a local hospital.
As the new of death of seven youth in Budgam spread in poll bound Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, spontaneous clashes erupted between protestors and government forces in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts as well.
Several protestors were injured, some of them critically, in government forces firing on stone-pelting demonstrators at Nowhatta, Habbak in downtown Srinagar, besides in Ganderbal.
Clashes were also being reported from several other places in the constituency, including Soura, Batamaloo, Nowgam in the city.
Meanwhile, only 6.5 per cent polling was recorded during the bypolls marred by violence in Srinagar parliamentary constituency, which is spread over three district of Budgam, Ganderbal and Srinagar.
As many as 200 incident of violence were recorded during the day in Srinagar constituency, where poll percentage was around 20 per cent less than the voting recorded in Srinagar Lok Sabha election in 2014.