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ANANTNAG/SRINAGAR, Oct 1: Eighteen people died on Tuesday in the bloodiest polling day yet as a third round of elections were held in occupied Kashmir.
Most voters in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir Valley stayed away, saying the poll was no solution to the dispute over Kashmir’s future.
“This election is a fraud, we want freedom,” said Gul Mohammed Butt, who works in a garage in the town of Anantnag, the main town in a district which had only 25 per cent turnout.
Gunmen killed eight people on a bus, and six Indian soldiers died when their vehicle ran over a landmine, believed to have been planted by the Mujahideen. Two militants, a political activist and an Indian soldier died in separate incidents.
Despite the killings, India’s election commission claimed a turnout of 41 percent.
Villagers along the heavily guarded highway from Srinagar to Anantnag said they would not vote despite pressure.
“(Indian) security forces came in this morning and they asked us to go and vote, we promised them we will go... but we are not going,” said Farooq Ahmad, threshing rice on a farm by the roadside.
The army denied soldiers had ordered people to vote.
Police quickly broke up an anti-poll protest in Anantnag.
“We want freedom!” a small group chanted as soldiers armed with automatic weapons patrolled the otherwise deserted streets.
BUS ATTACK: Just as polls opened, three gunmen wearing Indian police uniforms attacked a bus travelling from New Delhi to occupied Kashmir, riddling it with automatic fire as terrified passengers huddled on the floor.
Passenger Bhushan Lal said victims were left lying in pools of blood.
“The fire was so heavy, everybody was screaming, crying for help,” said Wanchuk Norbu, a student who was also on the bus.
Police said they killed one of the gunmen and were searching the area for the other two.
As polls closed, six paramilitary troops died when their vehicle triggered a landmine explosion in Pulwama district.
A paramilitary spokesman said two men were also injured in the blast.
The held state’s ruling National Conference party is expected to retain power in an election boycotted by moderate parties and being fought mainly by pro-Indian parties and a few independents.
JAMMU: In Hindu-dominated areas of the Jammu region, people queued up to cast their votes. In the district of Kathua, where the bus was attacked, turnout was the highest at 59 per cent.
“The violence has become part of our life, but voting is something that we have to do,” farmer Randhir Singh said.—Reuters
