SRINAGAR: One person was killed and 32 injured in militant attacks and clashes between political parties on Monday during by-elections in the four Assembly segments in the State. The voter turnout, however, was among the highest witnessed in the last 16 years despite boycott calls by separatist groups.

Around 10 a.m. when polling was picking up in Pattan, an explosion took place in Palhalan village. Two civilians and three policemen were injured. People lined up outside the polling booth suspected that a group of people in a vehicle were responsible for the attack. They surrounded the vehicle and set it on fire. They alleged that those travelling in the vehicle were People's Democratic Party workers who wanted to scare away the voters. The people took out a procession and raised slogans against PDP candidate Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari.

In Wagoora in Sangrama segment militants hurled a grenade when PDP nominee Javed Baig was visiting a polling booth. Though he escaped unhurt, two security men and 16 civilians were injured. However, the people alleged that the PDP was behind the attack. They staged a demonstration and demanded that a case be registered against Mr. Baig. However, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti denied the allegation and condemned the attack.

A number of people were injured in Pattan when a clash took place between the supporters of Mr. Ansari and National Conference nominee Mustafa Kamal.

In Srinagar, one person was killed and 10 others injured, including six CRPF jawans, when Jaish-e-Mohammad militants blew up a security vehicle.

Police and paramilitary forces cordoned off the area and conducted searches. The JeM, in a statement to local news agencies, claimed responsibility for the attack.

People came out in large numbers to cast their votes in the Rafiabad, Sangrama and Pattan Assembly segments.

The same was the case in Bhaderwah where Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is contesting.

Chief Electoral Officer B.R. Sharma said the overall percentage in the four segments was 59. Bhaderwah witnessed the highest percentage of 72 followed by 66.2 per cent in Rafiabad, 56.2 per cent in Pattan and 40.32 per cent in Sangrama.

"The overall situation remained peaceful," Mr. Sharma said adding that the percentage could go up by one or two per cent as the figures were not final. Unlike in the past, there was not a single complaint of coercion by security forces and enthusiasm among the willing voters was at its peak, he said.

In Rafiabad where the PDP's Dillawar Mir and National Conference's Maqbool Mir are locked in a straight contest the impact of the separatist boycott was non-existent.

At the Watergam polling station, 310 votes were cast out of total 1,096 by 10.24 a.m. Women dominated the long queues. Misra Banoo said, "People who raised their hands in front of Syed Ali Geelani a few days back swearing to boycott the polls today came to vote." Kreeri, a township in the middle of the constituency, wore a festive look as enthusiasm among the voters was evident. People lined up to cast their votes fearlessly.

Reports from Bhaderwah suggest that the voter turnout was heavy despite a grenade attack and an encounter on Sunday evening. People said they were voting for Mr. Azad. Mahtaba Begum, 160-year-old woman was the first to cast her vote at the Chinot polling station in Bhaderwah. "My son is in the election, how can I be at home?" she told a reporter referring to Mr. Azad.

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