Anti-election protests rock Srinagar

Srinagar, Apr 25 (ANI): Police resorted to baton-charge to quell the violent separatists who staged an anti-poll protest here on Friday.

Kashmir's main separatist alliance appealed to the people of the region to boycott general elections, prompting authorities to place two separatist leaders under house arrest.

The decision by the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference comes after the Pakistan-based United Jihad Council (UJC) asked the separatist alliance to support their call to shun the poll.

As the activists tried to proceed towards Lal Chowk, the police baton charged and used tear gas shells to disperse the agitating youth.

The UJC is a Pakistan-based amalgam of 13-militant groups fighting Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir.he general elections began last week, but voting in the Kashmir valley has been split into three phases starting from April 30.

The staggered voting is to allow security forces to shift themselves around the troubled region.

Besides Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party are contesting in the region. (ANI)