Shops, schools and offices closed in Srinagar. Main separatist leaders under house arrest. Police presence increased. Polls open tomorrow: of the 1483 polling stations, 665 are at risk.

Srinagar (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A 50 hour strike to boycott elections has been called by Islamic separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of tomorrow’s round of voting in the provincial state capital Srinagar.

 

Syed Ali Geelani, leader of the Kashmiri separatists, says “this is the only way we can peacefully protests against the elections”. Supporters of independence for the State and its annexation to Pakistan do not want to legitimise Indian rule in the region which is contested by the neighbouring nations.

 

Many schools, shops and offices remain closed since yesterday evening.  Local people are describing the strike as a ‘long holiday’ alluding to the fact that many will remain at home to avoid eventual disturbances.  Police have taken “necessary security measures” and sources from the Central Reserve Police Force report that 180 companies have been sent to the district to aid those already operative in the area.

 

Seperatist group leaders have been placed under house arrest: Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik will remain under house arrest even after polling stations are closed.  But tension remains high: of the 1483 polling stations, 665 are said to be at risk.

• india
• elections
• kashmir
• islamic
• seperatists
• vote
• boycott
• strike
• jammu