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Curfew Indefinite curfew has been imposed in the Valley to stop the pre-planned separatists’ march to Lal Chowk. All the political leaders of the All Party Hurriyat Conference have been arrested by the state police and roads and residential areas have been sealed off by the the security agencies with metal barricades and barbed wire. Paramilitary troops are staging flag marches to thwart any kind of violence. Local press could not carry out its operations because of lack of curfew passes. Security forces have sealed all the entry the exit points of the city.

Public Anger All these steps have been taken by the state government to thwart the Lal Chowk march. Hurriyat had given a call to stage the march to press the government for its demands. Hurriyat is demanding opening up of Line of Control, release of all the Kashmiris who have been lodged in various jails, and the revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act. After the passing of Amaranth land transfer rule violence had irrupted in the valley which was followed by violence in Jammu. Because of it Valley had remained totally cut off for almost a month from the rest of the country.  It had resulted in scarcity of all the essential goods  in the Valley. All these developments led to huge public anger against the government. Hurriyat is trying to project this public anger as a struggle for freedom.

Elections About 40 protesters had been shot dead by security forces during anti-India agitations led by hurriyat leaders. These deaths had added more to the public anger against India and has created the wide rift between Kasmiris and New Delhi. Hurriyat is using this anti-India anger to fulfill its own goals. For last many years Hurriyat has lost its commands over the people of valley. It used the land transfer issue to project itself the sole leader of the people of valley. Hurriyat wants to keep the fire burning to thwart the state assembly elections. It is the truth that whenever it is the election time, anti-India forces try their best to thwart their best to disrupt the elections. Earlier militants used to do it but now Hurriyat has taken the responsibility to do their job because of the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan. Infiltration has decreased a lot and most of the militants operating in the valley have been eliminated by the security forces. In such circumstances only Hurriyat has remained in valley which is a pro-Pakistani  force that can disrupt the elections to strengthen Pakistan’s claim over Kashmir.