Shutdown being observed in IoK against so-called Indian elections

SRINAGAR: A complete shutdown is being observed in poll-bound areas of the Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) on Thursday, to record their protest against the holding of so-called Indian Parliamentary polls.

Call for the shutdown has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership.

All shops and business establishments are closed while traffic is off the road in all the three poll-bound districts of Srinagar, Badgam and Ganderbal in Central Kashmir where polling is being held in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.

The occupied authorities have made heavy deployment of Indian police and paramilitary personnel across the three districts.

The authorities also snapped the mobile internet service in central and south Kashmir, last night. Train service has also been suspended in the Kashmir valley by the authorities.

Read more: Indians begin voting in second phase of mammoth general election

The Chairman, All Parties Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Gilani, has urged the people to completely boycott the election drama.

In a statement in Srinagar, he said that on one hand, ruthless killings, unabated arrest spree, economic strangulation, vehicular restriction and enforced demographic changes through judicial onslaught are on their peak, while on the other hand, a vast military exercise under the veil of election was being thrust on the helpless Kashmiris just to strengthen India’s illegal occupation over Jammu and Kashmir.