SRINAGAR A shutdown was observed as polling for the first of the nine-phased panchayati elections was held on Saturday in the Valley.
Shops and other business establishments were closed while movement of the traffic, both public and private, was negligible on the roads in Srinagar.
Reports from district headquarters of the Valley said that shops and business establishments remained closed while some private vehicles were seen on the roads.
Attendance in government offices, banks and post offices was also affected due while all educational institutions including schools mainly remained closed.
Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in strength in downtown areas and they had also placed barricades.
Reports said that there were minor stone pelting clashes in some parts of Pulwama district.
The call for the strike has been given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against the panchayat polls.
The JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik urged people to observe shutdown against “yet another election drama” being enacted by the “oppressive regime” of New Delhi. There are restrictions imposed in parts of Srinagar mainly in downtown areas in and around historic Jamia masjid.
High-speed Mobile Internet service was suspended in several parts of Kashmir valley where Panchayat elections were held.
Reports said that the speed of mobile Internet was throttled to 2G in Budgam, Baramulla and Bandipora districts while the data service was completely blocked in Kupwara district.
The poling was scheduled at 3296 polling stations across the state, including 1303 in Kashmir and 1993 in Jammu Division.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Shaleen Kabra, 5585 candidates were in the fray for 420 Sarpanch and 1845 Panch seats in Phase-I. 85 Sarpanchs and 1676 Panchs have already been elected unopposed in Phase-I.
687 polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive including 491 in Kashmir and 196 in Jammu Division.
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