Ahead of Anantnag bypoll on April 12, polling booth set ablaze in Pulwama

Ahead of the bypoll for Anantnag parliamentary seat scheduled for April 12, violence has rocked the Valley, as a polling booth at the Government High School in Arihal Pulwama was set ablaze by unknown persons. Meanwhile, security remains tight and the Valley has been turned into a fortress.

Booths have been provided maximum security, with hundreds of troopers deployed at colleges and schools where voting will be held. Following the escalation of violence on Sunday, internet services have suspended in entire Kashmir Valley till Anantnag by-polls on April 12.

Apart from this, all Kashmir University exams scheduled to be held up-to the Anatanag by-polls have been postponed. New dates for the same will be notified separately.

Meanwhile, with another civilian succumbing to injuries, the death toll in the brutal Budgam clashes has gone up to eight. The civilians were killed during clashes with security forces in various areas of central Kashmir's Budgam district.

The Srinagar Parliamentary constituency witnessed lowest voter turnout for the by-polls in the wake of the clashes.