Six people were killed and more than two dozen injured on Sunday when police clashed with protesters during a by-election in Srinagar in India's disputed Kashmir region, a senior police official said. Separatist factions in Kashmir had called for a boycott of the vote, resulting in heightened security and low voter turnout when the polling began. In Budgam district, police initially used tear gas against protesters who were throwing stones, but then opened fire, killing six people, the senior police official said. In the Charare-e-Sharif area of the city two people were killed when the Border Security Force fired at protesters, said Shantmanu, who uses only one name. In Srinagar's Beerwah area paramilitary police opened fire at a stone-throwing crowd, killing another person. Polling was halted in at least 10 places as clashes broke out between police and protesters following a call by Kashmiri separatist leaders to boycott the by-elections. Former state chief minister Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting the Srinagar seat, slammed the government for its failure to maintain law and order. "Elections should have been peaceful. This government has failed in giving a peaceful atmosphere for people to come and vote," he told reporters. Police detained hundreds of young people and separatist activists in the run-up to the polls, sources said. More than two dozen people were injured during the clashes across central Kashmir on Sunday, the official said. At least 70 polling stations were shut due to the violence, while at some stations voting machines were set ablaze by the protesters. The by-election in Srinagar is being held to fill a vacant seat in the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament. A second by-election in the state for a separate Lok Sabha seat is set to take place on April 12 in Anantnag. The results of both polls are expected to be announced on April 15. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence over Kashmir, which each claims in full but rules only a part. India accuses Pakistan of backing separatist fighters — a charge Islamabad denies. The violence has killed 84 civilians and wounded more than 12,000 civilians and security force personnel. Rebel groups in Indian Kashmir have for decades battled troops and police, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan. Around 500,000 Indian soldiers are deployed in the region. Armed encounters between rebels and government forces have become more frequent following widespread unrest which was sparked by the killing of a popular rebel leader by security forces last July. Police and army officials say dozens of local youths have joined the rebel ranks since then. At least 29 armed militants, mostly locals, have died fighting government forces this year. — Agencies
