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Valley Shops, businesses and schools remained closed for second consecutive day on Friday across the Kashmir valley after the government had put strict curfew like restrictions into force to thwart separatist joint coordination committee’s proposed march to Jamia Mosque where it was to announce its anti-election programs. Earlier they had called for a grand march on Thursday but security forces had thwarted their effort by imposing section 144 and by keeping some prominent Hurriyat leaders under house arrest. Hurriyat already have announced its poll boycott program. The elections in the state are scheduled to be held in seven phases between 17 November and 24 December.

Communal Coordination Committee had called for ‘Jamia Chalo’ march to pay homage to the Muslims who had been killed in the communal riots in Jammu in 1947. It is for the first time that Hurriyat had called such a march in the 60 years history of Kashmir. Though Hurriyat projects itself as a leader of all the communities of the Kashmir region but its ‘Jamia Chalo’ call has exposed its communal face. It must be learnt that thousands of Hindus had been killed by the Hurriyat supported militants during the year of 1989 in the valley. Lacks of Kashmiri Hindus had to flee from the valley for safety and they are still living in government aided refugee camps.

Disruption Relations between India and Pakistan are improving and both the nations have taken some confidence building measure. Both the nations have started bus service across the border and recently have resumed cross-LoC trade after the gap of 60 years. Both the countries had declared cease fire on the LoC which is still in force and because of it militancy has declined in the state. It must be learnt that Hurriyat always have supported the militant who used to get arms training in the Pak-occupied Kashmir and infiltrate into the Indian territory under the cover fire from the Pakistan military. But the recent developments have decreased the power of militants. It is the fact that infiltration used to increase at the election time in the state. Motive behind the increased infiltration used to be the disruption in the elections. But this time ceasefire on the LoC curbed the infiltration of the militants. But the anti-India elements want to disrupt the elections in the state. So now Hurriyat have taken the charge of disrupting the elections.