SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Valley was yesterday rocked by violence yet again two days ahead of the second phase of polling, even as the entire summer capital Srinagar was placed under an undeclared curfew since early this morning.
For the second time this month, Friday prayers were not allowed in the historic Jamaa Masjid in the Nowhatta locality of the old city, which had been surrounded by the police and paramilitary, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
At least 18 people were wounded in when police clashed with Muslims protesting against elections in the disputed region where troops erected barricades and enforced an undeclared curfew.
A police officer was seriously wounded when suspected militants attacked police posts with grenades in north Kashmir yesterday, police said.
Indian authorities have deployed thousands of troops in Srinagar, enforcing an undeclared curfew, to thwart planned anti-election protests.
Despite the tight security arrangements, hundreds of anti-poll protesters took to streets immediately after the Friday prayers in north Kashmir Sopore, Baramulla and Ganderbal towns and in south Kashmir Anantnag town.
Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti signed off her party’s campaign with an impressive procession of around a hundred vehicles carrying supporters as canvassing ended yesterday. The north Kashmir constituency of Kangan will see a keen tussle between the powerful regional National Conference (NC) candidate, Mian Altaf Ahmad, and nine other contestants, including PDP’s Bashir Ahmad Mir.
Mehbooba’s campaign in the constituency becomes significant because in Kangan even the strongest NC bashers do not provide half a chance to anybody to defeat the NC candidate. She traveled from one corner of the constituency to another, right up to the Gund village, 60 km from Srinagar, campaigning for her party.
National Conference (NC) President Omar Abdullah is also leaving nothing to chance in the north Kashmir constituency of Ganderbal this time. Accompanied by dozens of vehicles carrying supporters, Omar addressed small groups of people in village after village, town after town in Ganderbal constituency where he is challenged by 11 other candidates.
