Srinagar: The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has appealed for a complete shutdown in areas going to polls in the second phase of Panchayat elections tomorrow.
In a statement, JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have asked people to observe a complete protest shutdown in Kalaroos, Machil, Rajwar, Ganstan, Nowgam, Sangrama, Wagoora, Kangan, Rathsun, Bijbehara areas going to polls in the second phase of “sham” panchayat elections “thrust on them by the authoritarian state.”
The JRL asked the people to “demonstrate their total rejection and disregard of this futile exercise by staying away and boycotting it completely.”
Meanwhile, Police on Monday detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik in Srinagar.
Reports said a contingent of police surrounded the JKLF office at Abi Guzar and detained Malik.
Malik has been lodged at police station Kothi Bagh, said a party spokesman.
Prior to his detention, Malik appealed people to boycott Panchayat polls to give a strong message to New Delhi.
Earlier, while addressing the Friday gathering at historic Jamia Masjid, Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had said that the resistance leadership and the people of Kashmir had time and again rejected every election thrust on them with a view to dilute the disputed nature of Kashmir and strengthen and legitimize Indian rule in J&K.
Mirwaiz had said that the government of India can’t stop people of Kashmir from demanding their legitimate right, the right to self determination.
Mirwaiz had said that the people of Kashmir would once again reject the sham polls commencing from November 17 in the same way they out rightly rejected the Urban Local Body polls and send a message to one and all that people of Kashmir rejected farcical exercises.
