ULB elections: Normal life crippled in poll-bound areas in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 16: Normal life was crippled in poll-bound areas in Kashmir valley due to a strike called by separatists on Tuesday, when the fourth and final phase of Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections were being held in the state.

Restrictions were again imposed as a precautionary measure in the downtown Srinagar, where all gates of historic Jamia masjid have been closed since Tuesday early morning to prevent any demonstration while mobile and broadband speed has been reduced in the valley as a precautionary measure to prevent spreading of rumours and stop protests.

Meanwhile, security forces on Tuesday afternoon burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge at Soura in the city outskirts disperse stone pelting demonstrators trying to disrupt polling.

Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yaseen Malik, has called for a strike only in poll-bound areas on Tuesday.

Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was of the roads in poll-bound areas in Kashmir, including 24 wards of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and 12 wards of Ganderbal Municipal Committee (GMC). But, some private vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, were plying on few routes in these areas.

In rest of the areas in the valley, life by and large remained unaffected as shops and other business establishments were doing normal business.

Meanwhile, low voter turnout was recorded in 24 wards of SMC and 12 wards of GMC on Tuesday in the final phase of four phased election amidst unprecedented security arrangements.