Eleven days before by-polls in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency—comprising Srinagar-Budgam and Ganderbal—three civilians were killed and ten injured (including a soldier) in clashes between protesters and security forces at Budgam. The encounter had ended late evening on Tuesday.
Police and CRPF opened fire on protesters who were trying to close in on the encounter site. Seven people were injured when security forces opened fire and fired pellets and tear smoke shells to disperse them.
One youngster, Zahid Rashid, who was hit with a bullet in the neck, succumbed to the injuries at a hospital in Srinagar. The doctors at SHMS hospital declared him brought dead.
Another youth, Saqib Ahmed, critically injured at Durbugh, Chadoora, was moved to Srinagar where he succumbed to his injuries. Hospital sources said Saqib was hit by a bullet in the chest.
The killings flared up tension, forcing the closure of businesses in the area and beyond. The killings are likely to impact the turnout in the area on the election day, April 9.
Separatist leader and chairman of Geelani-faction of Hurriyat Conference(G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has called for a poll boycott and asked how people who participated in funerals of militants and civilians can go out to vote on election day.
The Srinagar constituency is considered relatively safe for the NC-Congress joint candidate, Farooq Abdullah. The PDP has fielded Nazir Ahmed against Farooq. The party is banking on the Shia vote in the Budgam and Srinagar districts to counter the influence of NC in the three districts that comprise Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
Police sources said the encounter was going on and a portion of the hideout was blasted by security force personnel using IEDs. A police source said encounter has reached the final phase. A militant or two are expected to be holed up in the hideout.
