Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists open fire near election meeting venue in Anantnag

Terrorists reportedly opened fire near an area where a leader of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) was about to address an election meeting in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Saturday. 

The firing, which could have been done in an attempt to scare the voters, took place in Achabal town's Magray Mohalla in Anantnag district triggering chaos in the area. The terrorists later fled the scene due to heavy deployment of police personnel. 

The police have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the terrorists. No injuries or casualties were reported. The police also said that the meeting, which was held in connection with the upcoming bypolls and chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, was unaffected and concluded peacefully.

"Whoever they might be, anyone who takes law in their own hands or threatens will be dealt with strictly," Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti told reporters. 

A government school building in Budgam district's Yaripora village was also set on fire by unidentified people on Friday evening. The school was supposed to be a polling station for the Lok Sabha bypolls on Sunday. The area comes under the Srinagar parliamentary constituency.

"The fire was immediately controlled and the building has suffered minor damages," a senior police officer said.

Bypolls are scheduled to be held in the Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies on April 9 and 12 respectively.