SRINAGAR: Government forces locked down Kashmir’s main city yesterday to thwart planned protests against India’s general election, renewing tensions in the disputed region after a short period of relative calm.
Hundreds of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers and policemen were patrolling various localities of Srinagar to enforce curfew like restrictions. The security forces have erected barricades using razor fitted wires to restrict the movement of people and vehicles.
“We are confined to our homes. No movement is being allowed in the old city. The CRPF jawans are guarding lanes and by-lanes in our locality,” said Javed Ahmad, a resident of Nowhatta area.
However, despite the restrictions, groups of youth came out on the roads in Safakadal area of the old city and pelted stones at the police and paramilitary troopers. The security forces dispersed them with batons and tear smoke. Shops and businesses also remained closed. Voting is scheduled today.
“New Delhi is frustrated by our resistance movement, and not allowing us to carry out peaceful protests against the polls is a shameful act,” said Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, chairman of the separatists alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference.
The boycott call, which came suddenly after two rounds of voting in rest of India, is seen as a bid by the separatists to deny New Delhi any credit for holding an election in Kashmir.
