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| Protests, clashes mark polling day in Kupwara | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, Nov 30: Amid protests, cane charge, shots in air and clashes, polling for third phase concluded in Kupwara on Sunday. According to reports, supporters of various political parties started clashing at numerous places in Kupwara and there are reports of booth capturing also from the district. Police and paramilitary CRPF had to fire in air to disperse the clashing mobs at different places.
Polling started early on Sunday with a large number of voters turning up to polling booths. Politicians also hovered around the polling stations to woo voters at the last moment in their favour. However, the visit of the candidates created trouble at Dewar, Loanharay, Kupwara, Aharbug, Madigam, Handwara and Jigarpora where supporters of opposite parties clashed with their supporters. Police had tough time to deal with the belligerent supporters as they threw their sticks around on them to maintain peace around polling booths.
PDP supporters allegedly attacked Qaisar Jamshed Lone when he was on visit to Dewar polling booth Nos. 3, 4 and 5. While talking to PBI, Lone alleged that one particular party had kept surrendered militants as polling agents who were urging voters to vote for the party, they were agents of, or else prepare for the worst.
"The surrendered militant duo named as Asghar and Showkat were intimidating voters of dire consequences in case they do not vote for a particular party which enraged others and it triggered a clash. Police cane charged the bellegerent supporters and also shot some rounds to quell the mob," Lone told PBI. However, he did not divulge who opened the fire. Police sources told PBI that the security guards of Qaisar opened fire and no one was injured in the incident.
At Loanharay, supporters of PDP and NC clashed with each other and blasted Kangris on one another's heads which left many injured. Police had to use force to disperse the mob to maintain peace around the polling station.
Kupwara also had its share of clashes where supporters of PDP candidate Fayaz Ahmad and Awami National Conference candidate Mohammad Maqbool scuffled with each other. Police intervened to dislodge the entangling fighters. Similarly in Handwara, sympathisers of Independent candidate Sofi Mohiudin and NC supporters were involved in a fist fight during which Kangris were thrown at one another. Many suffered injuries here as well. Jigarpora also saw the supporters of the aforementioned locked in a fist fight.
Meantime, long queues of voters were seen outside polling booths at numerous places across Kupwara and people were seen shoving one another to cast their votes. After talking to several voters about their choice of candidate for Kupwara constituency, the contest seems between Mir Saifullah and Haji Abdul Ahad Mir. |
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