Militants ambushed voting center: Police ; Mobs force election staff to hide in army camp
SHOPIAN: A polling officer was killed at Nagabal polling booth when armed assailants fired at the retreating security vans of Central Reserve Police Force. More than four paramilitary personnel were also injured who were later removed to the nearby hospital. Police sources said, “The polling staff as well as the security personnel were retreating. The suspected militants had laid an ambush and caught them unawares.”
A police spokesperson said, ” terrorists near Handew, Nagbal on Shopian-Zainpora road fired upon a bus carrying polling staff and security personnel. One polling officer namely Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq of Herpora, Shopian was killed.” The spokesperson added that another staffer Zubair Ahmad Indrabi of Shopian, two CRPF personnel of 144Bn namely Sanjay Kumar and Vijay Kumar, one Policeman HC Ghulam Nabi and driver of the bus Manzoor Ahmad of Tral received bullet injuries. All the injured have been evacuated to hospital.
The killing has caused fear among thousands of government employees who are generally used as human resource to conduct the poll. A manhunt was launched to nab the assailants who managed to escape soon after the attack, a police official said.
Meanwhile the polling staff deputed at one of the polling booths in Tahab area of South Kashmirs Pulwama district took refuge in a nearby Army camp after youth attacked the booth with stones earlier in the day.
Eyewitnesses said that scores of youth in Tahab attacked polling booth number 96A with stones and smashed the windowpanes of the polling station.
The polling staff fled from the booth and sought help from the Army. We had no alternative but to take refuge in nearby Army camp, a polling officer said adding that it was a hectic day for them as the town was marred by violence all around.
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