Re-polling in Kashmir's Budgam begins amid tight security

Separatists have called for shutdown in areas of Budgam district in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency where repolling is being held.

Srinagar, April 13: Re-polling at 38 polling stations in Budgam district in Srinagar parliamentary constituency began on Thursday amid tight security arrangements.

Re-poll was ordered in 38 polling stations of Chadoora, Chrar-e-Sharief, Khansahib and Beerwah tehsils of Budgam district where violence had disrupted the process on Sunday.

Voting process started at 7 am and will end at 4 pm.

However, voters did not turnout in big numbers to cast their ballots.

Sunday's polling was disrupted by massive violence in which eight civilians were killed in clashes with the security forces. In widespread clashes with security forces, protesters tried to storm polling stations soon after voting started at 7 am. Responding to the call given by Hurriyat leaders to boycott the polls, youths even tried to set ablaze booths in some areas by hurling petrol bombs.

Separatists on Wednesday called for shutdown in areas of Budgam district in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency where repolling is re-scheduled to be held on Thursday.

"Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have called for shutdown in poll-bound areas on April 13," the separatist groups said in a joint statement.

[J-K: Separatists call for shutdown ahead of Budgam repolling]

Alarmed by the unprecedented violence, the Election Commission decided to defer the Anantnag Parliamentary seat by-poll to May 25.

Voting in Anantnag constituency was otherwise scheduled for April 12.

Former chief minister and opposition National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah has challenged ruling Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Nazir Ahmad Khan in the Srinagar-Budgam constituency.

Counting of votes will be held on Saturday and the result would be known the same day.

IANS