SRINAGAR: Sporadic clashes marred the second phase of polling across Kashmir on Tuesday. Police however said by and large the day passed off peacefully with record 71.9% people turning out to vote.
Giving details a police spokesman said a man was held after government forces recovered a grenade from his possession in Kulgam district of in South Kashmir Tuesday evening.
He said a joint team of government forces including police, army and paramilitary arrested Bilal Ahmad Sheikh, resident Rampora in the district and recovered a hand grenade during an operation in Qoimoh.
Police have registered a case FIR No. 75/2014 under section 7/25 A Act and investigation has been taken up, he added.
Earlier clashes between pro-freedom youth and government forces erupted in parts of Kulgam district.
Clashes erupted at Qaimoh and Redwani where groups of youth took to streets since early morning and held pro-freedom and anti-election protests.
The protesters blocked streets and clashes with police and paramilitary personal. Witnesses said the forces resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the youth. However, the youth were regrouping themselves to pelt stones on forces.
The clashes affected poling in Qaimoh and Redwani with most of the people preferring to stay away from the democratic process.
There were no reports of injury to any protester or forces personal.
In northern Kashmir’s Palhalan area Police resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling after youth attacked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in the area.
Eyewitnesses said that youth at around 5:50 pm stormed a PDP rally at Palhallan near Misra Gali when they were coming from Pattan. The youth attacked them with stones, fire pots and roughed up many. They smashed glasses of vehicles which were part of the rally, police said.
The witnesses said that in the meanwhile, police arrived on the spot and resorted to aerial firing and teargas shelling to disperse the protesters.
After police action, clashes started between youth and forces at Aram Mohalla, they said. The clashes were going on for almost an hour.
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