Four killed in Kashmir poll violence (Third Lead)

Srinagar April 9 (IANS) At least four persons were killed on Sunday when security forces opened fire to disperse protestors in central Kashmir s Budgam district where byelection for the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary seat is being held.

Two protestors died in firing at Dalwan village in the Charar-e-Sharif assembly segment of Budgam and one each died in Beerwah and Wathura areas of the district. The security forces opened fire after a mob attacked the polling station at Dalwan village and reportedly damaged the EVMs and prevented voters from exercising their franchise. Security forces opened fire to protect the polling staff a police official said. A mob torched a bus and also damaged the EVMs at a polling station in Beerwah as also elsewhere in Budgam district the police official said. The voting turnout was a poor five per cent till noon after polling started at 7.00 a.m in Budgam Srinagar and Ganderbal districts that fall within the parliamentary constiuency. At least 261 397 voters are eligible to cast vote in the Srinagar-Budgam seat where 1 559 polling stations have been set up. Nine candidates including National Conference President Farooq Abdullah are in the fray. The by-poll from the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency is being held because the seat fell vacant after the then sitting member Tariq Karra resigned during the unrest of 2016. --IANS sq-ahm/vt