News In Pictures : Second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Kashmir amid tight security

Photos & Text - Faisal Magray 

Central Kashmir's Srinagar parliamentary constituency went to polls on 30 April 2014 and witnessed low to moderate voter turnout. Chief Electoral Officer Umang Nirula Wednesday said that all but 26 per cent polling was recorded in 15 Assembly segments of Central Kashmir parliamentary constituency which went to polls on Wednesday amid tight security. In 2009, Srinagar recorded 25.25 percent voting.

Elections in India will be held in nine phases between 07 April and 12 May 2014, the country's Election Commission said with a total of 814.6 million people eligible to vote - around 100 million more than in the elections in 2009. Elections for India's 545-member lower house of parliament, or Lok Sabha, are held every five years.
Mean while youth was killed in firing by security forces and fourteen others including a woman were injured in Nawakadal area of Old city here in  srinagar  on Wednesday evening  after a clash with forces , sources said.

National Conference candidate Farooq Abdullah along with his son, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and other members of his family cast ballots at the Burnhall polling station in the city.

The turnout in Amira Kadal, Batmaloo, Habba Kadal, Sonawar, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Zadibal and Idgah was affected to a large extent after separatists asked people to boycott the polls.

In Habba Kadal area of Srinagar city, PDP and NC workers clashed with each other over alleged mobile voting. The clashes inside the polling station disrupted the poll process for some time.

A group of youth also attacked a polling station at Anchar area of Soura. Reports said that the youth pelted stones on polling station that created panic there.

 At Mehjoor Nagar Srinagar, few youth resorted to stone-pelting when polling was going on smoothly. However, police brought the situation under control after chasing them away. In Zainakot area, one youth namely Aijaz Ahmed Ilahi son of Ghulam Rasool was injured during clashes that erupted after protestors tried to attack a polling station.

Hundreds of CRPF troopers and policemen deployed in different parts of Kashmir especially in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal to thwart possible protests. Reports said that the roads wore a deserted look in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir.

All the shops and business establishments remained closed while transport was off the road. Meanwhile, life all across Kashmir remained paralyzed on Wednesday as Central Kashmir parliamentary constituency went to polls. The strike call was given by Hurriyat conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani which was supported by other pro-freedom groups.

Though majority of the people boycotted election process in Old City Srinagar, however people were seen visiting in scatter form at different polling stations to cast their vote. Only 17 percent votes were polled in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency Wednesday, officials said.

In Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal, Budgam , people were seen standing in long queues at different polling stations to cast their vote.Villagers in Ganderbal and Budgam defied the boycott call and came out to vote.

Hundreds of CRPF troopers and policemen deployed in different parts of Kashmir especially in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal to thwart possible protests. The turnout at 46.5 percent was the highest in the Kangan assembly segment. Of the total 12.04 lakh voters, 2,08,899 had exercised their franchise till 2 p.m.