Informal curfew is in place in Srinagar ahead of vote

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SRINAGAR, Nov 21 (Reuters): An informal curfew is in place in the city of Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, ahead of the second phase of elections for a new state government.
There has been no official announcement about the curfew, but the police are restricting the movements of people.
The restrictions have been imposed to prevent anti-election protests after Friday prayers, officials have said.
Polling is due Sunday in the constituencies of Ganderbal and Kangan in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley.
Although pro-Indian political groups are feeling upbeat following a huge turnout of voters in the first phase of polling last Monday, the authorities are not taking any chances.
A police official who did not want to be named said any casualties caused by police or paramilitary forces dealing with anti-election protests might prove disastrous for the electoral process.
The unusually strong turnout in the first phase of elections for a new state government in Indian-administered Kashmir took everyone by surprise.
Voters queue outside a polling station in Ajas, in Bandipora constituency in Indian-administered Kashmir on November 17, 2008