Stone-pelters target PDP poll convention, three hurt

An election convention of the ruling PDP was today targeted by stone-pelters in bypoll-bound Anantnag constituency of Kashmir, resulting in injuries to three persons.
In the first such incident since the campaigning began for the bypolls for Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies, a group of youth pelted stones on the convention which was being held in the Dak Bunglow premises in Chawalgam area of Kulgam district, police official said.
Kulgam falls in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency where the PDP has fielded Tassaduq Hussain, brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Minister for Rural Development Abdul Haq Khan was present at the convention along with some other party leaders, the official said.

Three persons were hurt in the incident, he said, adding police swung into action and chased the stone-pelters.
He said the convention continued even after the incident.

Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is going to polls on April 9, while Anantnag on April 12.
The PDP has fielded Nazir Ahmad Khan from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
Opposition National Conference and Congress have entered into a seat-sharing agreement for the by-polls.
Accordingly, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah is contesting from Srinagar while Pradesh Congress Committee chief G A Mir is contesting from Anantnag constituency.
Anantnag Lok Sabha seat fell vacant in June last after Mehbooba got elected to the state assembly, two months after she became the Chief Minister. She had representend the constituency in the Lok Sabha since 2014.

Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was vacated by former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra who resigned in September last year in protest against alleged "brutalities" on Kashmir protesters.