Srinagar, Apr 11 (UNI) Normal life was crippled in the Kashmir valley due to a strike called by separatists on Thursday, when people in Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency are casting their votes.
A police official said there were no restrictions in any part of the valley though security forces have been deployed in strength, particularly in north Kashmir, to maintain law and order.
?Three-tire security has been put in place to provide safe and secure environment to voters, who are exercising their franchise to elect their representative from nine candidates contesting from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat,? he said.
Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the road in downtown, civil lines and uptown Srinagar though few private vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, besides three-wheelers, could be seen plying on some routes.
Business and other activities were crippled in main business hubs of the city, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve-centre of summer capital, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk, Maisuma, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Batmaloo, Moulana Azad Road, Residency Road and Dalgate.
Roadside vendors, selling vegetables and fruit were seen in the civil lines.
Additional security forces, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding weapons and lathis in their hands, were seen patrolling the streets in Srinagar areas to prevent any untoward incident.
However, some shops and business establishments are open in the uptown.
A total shut down was observed in this and other south Kashmir district and tehsil headquarters, a report from Anantnag said. Educational institutions, tuition and coaching centres are closed.
Business and other activities are remained paralysed. Additional security forces and state police personnel have been deployed to prevent any demonstration.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was also off the road in north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara where polling is taking place today.
Life also remained paralysed in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal and Badgam with all shops and business establishments shut and traffic off the roads.
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a general strike on Thursday against polls, National Investigation Agency (NIA) action against separatists and ban on civilian traffic twice in a week on Srinagar-Jammu national highway
