Srinagar: Kashmir Valley is observing a shutdown on the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on the call by Joint Resistance Leadership on Thursday.
Reports said that shops and business establishments are closed at most places in the Valley while traffic, particularly public transport, is off the roads. Schools and other educational institutes are also closed in the Valley.
The Joint Resistance leadership (JRL) comprising of Hurriyat Conference (G) led by Syed Ali shah Geelani, Hurriyat Conference (M) headed by Mirwaiz Muhammad Umer Farooq and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin MAlik has called for a complete shutdown on Thursday.
“The complete shutdown (Hartal) is against the so-called Indian parliamentary elections, against NIA aggression which includes the shifting of JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik to Tihar jail Delhi under the pretext of questioning by NIA, rigorous questioning of Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq at NIA headquarters in New Delhi, sustained interrogation and repeated summoning of two Sons of senior veteran leader Syed Ali shah Geelani namely Naeem-uz-Zafar Geelani and Naseem Geelani to Delhi by NIA, closure of Kashmir’s main highway for civilians for two days in a weak and recent attack by police and government forces on inmates at central jail Srinagar in which many inmates sustained bullet and pellet injuries and many have been shifted to unknown jails and interrogation center,” reads a statement issued here by the JRL.
While appealing people to stay away from upcoming Indian parliamentary polls, JRL had said that besides a complete shutdown across the Valley, shutdowns (protest strike) will be observed on April 18 in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts, on 23rd April in Anantnag on 29th April and Kulgam and on 6th May in Anantnag , Shopian and Pulwama areas.
