SRINAGAR, February 27: Militants attacked a polling booth with a grenade disrupting normal life in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley on the eve of polling, an official spokesman said here today.The militants lobbed a powerful grenade on a polling booth in the Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Natipora in uptown Srinagar last evening. The grenade attack took place while paramilitary forces were taking position in the school building yesterday, he said. The device exploded in the compound of the school and there was no casualty or damage to the building, he said.In another incident, police fired teargas shells to disperse an anti-poll demonstrators, police said.
Normal life remained crippled in five of the six districts of Kashmir valley today in response to the poll boycott call given by secessionist Hurriyat Conference.
Barring Anantnag district of South Kashmir, offices, banks, courts, educational institutions shops and business establishments in Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Badgamand Pulwama remained closed, official sources said.
All modes of transport, except three-wheelers, were off roads and inter-district bus services remained suspended, the sources added.
Meanwhile, the Hurriyat Conference and militant outfits have given separate poll boycott calls and a general strike for two days, beginning today.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
