A poor 6.5 percent polling was recorded in bypoll for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shantanu said on Sunday.
This is the worst poll figure in 30 years of electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir.
Clashes between security forces and protesters reportedly broke out in Budgam district, J&K, after protesters reportedly hurled petrol bombs at polling stations.
Eight protesters have been killed while at least 30 were injured when security forces fired at demonstrating mobs at three places in central Budgam district of the Kashmir Valley, reports ANI.
The protesters damaged EVMs and prevented voters from exercising franchise in Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary seat bypoll.
A police official said:
Security forces fired at anti-poll mobs resulting in injuries to some protesters.
Voting in the bypoll was low during the first three hours after polling started at 7 am.
Till 10 am, 4,403 votes were polled in Ganderbal district, 4,283 were polled in Srinagar district while 7,177 were polled in Budgam district.
At least 2,61,397 voters are eligible to cast vote in the Srinagar/Budgam seat where 1,559 polling stations have been set up.
Former J&K CM, Omar Abdullah tweeted about both the low voter turnout and violence that marred the election day.
Here’s how the Twitter has reacted to the same:
(With inputs from IANS and ANI.)
Join The Quint on WhatsApp. Type “JOIN” and send to 9910181818.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)