IHK observes strike in protest against Lok Sabha polls

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 NEW DELHI:

Kashmir is totally closed on Wednesday to protest against holding of Lok Sabha polls being held in Baramulla and Ladakh regions. The strike was called on by Hurriyat leaders, who have been put under house arrest preventing them to lead anti-polls rallies. Streets, roads and market places presented deserted look as Indian security personnel, deployed in thousands in the valley restricted the movement of the people. Security personnel were not allowing Kashmiris to move outside their localities and roads in the cities and towns to foil any attempt of staging anti-polls rallies.The Hurriyat leaders including APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Ali Shah Geelani and Yasin Malik have described the present polls as a futile exercise as the people of Kashmir want right of self determination and not sham elections being held in the presence of thousands of security personnel.