J&K: Separatists call for 2016-like protests on polling days for by-election

Srinagar: Separatists in Kashmir on Tuesday called for 2016-like protests in the Valley on the polling days for by-election to two Lok Sabha constituencies and asked people to stay away from the electoral exercise.

The call for protest was given in a joint statement issued by chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik.

The trio, who spearheaded the 2016 agitation, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces, also asked people of central and south Kashmir to observe complete shutdown on April 9 and 12 when Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies are going to bypolls respectively.

They asked shopkeepers to down the shutters of their establishments at 6 PM on April 8 and organise protests and rallies.

Seventy-six people besides two police personnel were killed during the five month-long unrest in the Kashmir Valley following the killing of Burhan Wani by security forces in an encounter on July 8.