Eight arrested in held Kashmir for booth capturing bid, casting bogus votes

Eight persons, including three polling agents of a political party were detained for allegedly trying to capture a polling booth during the last phase of assembly elections in Srinagar on Wednesday, official sources said. Polling agents of Awami National Conference -- Altaf Ahmad, Mohammad Younis and Basir Ahmad -- were taken into custody by police in Batmaloo and Amirakadal segments when they tried to capture a polling booth at Azad Basti in Amirakadal constituency, the sources said. Five persons were also detained for allegedly trying to cast bogus votes in Batmaloo. In another incident, Congress candidate Aga Syed Mohsin alleged that he was attacked by an National Conference activist while he was trying to enter a polling station. As a result, Congress supporters allegedly attacked the National Conference activists, the sources said, adding that police had to fire warning shots to disperse the clashing activists of both the parties and bring the situation under control. Polling went smoothly after the incident, the sources added.