5 killed in anti-India protests on Kashmir by-election day

Kashmiri protesters throw stones on Indian security men outside a poling station during a by-election to an Indian Parliament seat in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, April. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) (The Associated Press)

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An Indian policeman runs for cover as Kashmiri protesters throw stones on Indian security men outside a poling station during a by- election to an Indian Parliament seat in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, April. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) (The Associated Press)

A Kashmiri man injured during anti India protests shouts slogans as he is brought for treatment outside a hospital in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, April. 9, 2017. The anti India protests happened during a first phase of by-elections to an Indian Parliament seat in the troubled region. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) (The Associated Press)

SRINAGAR, India – Officials in India's portion of Kashmir say five people were killed when security forces opened fire on crowds of people who attacked polling stations where voting for a by-election was taking place.

Chief electoral officer Shantmanu said protesters tried to snatch or damage electronic voting machines in at least a dozen places in the districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal on Sunday.

The deaths occurred when security forces fired after clashes broke out with protesters who wanted to stop the election for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. The seat had fallen vacant after a lawmaker resigned to protest the killing of civilians during unrest last year.

Police said many protesters were injured in the violence.

Anti-India separatists who challenge India's sovereignty over Kashmir had called for a boycott of the by-election.