A petrol bomb attack on a polling station, firing on paramilitary forces patrol party and stone-pelting incidents took place in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday, a day before the Lok Sabha seat goes to polling.
A powerful explosion was reported on Tuesday morning near a school at Watergam in Baramulla district, where a polling station has been set up. The blast caused panic in the area and police and security officials rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The security men searched the rooms of the schools for explosives. However, no explosive material was recovered. A police spokesman said petrol bomb was hurled by unknown persons towards High School Watergam. “It caused damage to the window panes of the school,” he said.
In the evening, suspected militants attacked CRPF men near main Chowk Sopore in Baramulla district. “Three CRPF men were injured in the militant attack,” CRPF spokesman Kishore Prasad told Express. He said militants attacked a CRPF picket in main chowk Sopore.
Meanwhile, stone-pelting incidents were reported from various areas of Baramulla, Sopore and other parts of the North Kashmir. “Stone-pelting incidents was even going in the evening at several places,” Prasad said adding even during the day, youth pelted stones at many places on security men.
He said adequate security measures had been taken to ensure smooth conduct of polls. “All necessary measures have been taken and CRPF men have been asked to exhibit maximum restraint while dealing with stone-pelting incidents,” CRPF spokesman said.
Authorities have declared over 200 companies of CRPF and 60 battalion of police to ensure peaceful polls.