Informal curfew is in place in Srinagar ahead of vote
Saturday, 22 November 2008
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
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