Amid a shutdown and preventive detention of several separatist leaders in Kashmir, the Jammu & Kashmir Governor NN Vohra approved the issuance of notifications for the five-phased Assembly elections. The electoral process would formally kickstart on Tuesday (October 28) when notification for the first phase of elections would be issued.
Separatist leaders, including leaders of two factions of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, were detained in the backdrop of their shutdown call on the anniversary of landing of Indian Army in Jammu & Kashmir in 1947.
The first batch of Indian troops landed on Srinagar airport on October 27, 1947 when tribesmen from Pakistan were knocking at the doors of the capital city to occupy the territory. The armed tribesmen were later pushed back after a battle.
The separatists called for a shutdown on this day. They reiterated their demand for the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people. The Army celebrates the day as a mark of victory over Pakistan.
Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained shut in the Valley and passenger transport was not too frequent. The private vehicles were plying normally and government offices recorded sufficient attendance.
Interestingly, the shutdown did not prevent Governor Vohra to approve issuance of notifications for the Assembly elections.
The elections would commence in the 15 Assembly constituencies of Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari, Kangan, Ganderbal, Nobra, leh, Kargil, Zanskar, Kishtwar, Inderwal, Doda, Bhaderwah, Ramban (SC) and Banihal in the first phase on November 25.