Shutdown in Srinagar; clashes in Baramulla
Kumar Rakesh/Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Grenade attacks on candidates' houses Some militant hurled a grenade towards the house of Abdul Rashid Ganai, Panthers Party candidate for the Kangan constituency, at Arhama, the police said. In another incident, militants hurled a grenade and fired towards the residence of Mohammad Abdullah Dar, candidate of the Democratic Nationalist Party in Sopore. The grenade exploded in the premises of the house but no harm was caused.

Srinagar/Rajouri, November 23
Srinagar observed a complete shutdown today as its neighbouring Ganderbal district went for polls while Baramulla in south Kashmir, where two youths were killed in firing yesterday, saw day-long clashes between protestors and security personnel.

Large number of protesters collected in Khanpora in old Baramulla town, which has traditionally been more restive, and they tried to march through the area. They raised pro-freedom slogans and lashed out at authorities for the death of two youths yesterday.

Locals said security forces in the old town prevented crowdfrom marching and lathicharged and fired tear gas shells. Though there was no official count of injuries, locals said over 30 locals were injured in clashes. Official sources said at least 10 of their men were also injured.

The summer capital of the state remained shut throughout the day as security personnel threw a cordon around city to ensure that there is no unwanted movement of people to adjacent Ganderbal. Separatists' call for Ganderbal march was foiled today.

Meanwhile, supporters of political parties and independent candidates clashed in three assembly segments in Rajouri district, which went for polls today.

In Darhal constituency, NC supporters of party candidate Choudhary Liaqat allegedly hurled stones at the polling station in the Badi Darhal area, prompting the BSF personnel manning it open fire in air to control the situation. Five persons were injured in the incident, reports said. In Kalakote assembly segment, there were reports of violent clashes between supporters of NC candidate Rashpal Singh and independent candidate Ashok Sharma. At Brow polling station in Kalakote, four persons were reportedly injured in clashes between supporters of the NC and independent candidate. At Taryath polling station also, security forces had to fire in air to control the supporters of the same candidates.

There were reports of clashes between supporters of Singh and Sharma at Bandi polling station. At a polling station in Jawahar Nagar area of Rajouri constituency, supporters of independent candidate Muhammad Sharief Tariq and BJP candidate Vibodh Gupta resorted to stone pelting disrupting polling for about an hour.