Srinagar, Apr 11 (KNS): A complete shutdown was on Thursday observed across the Valley on the call given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF.

The shutdown call by the JRL was given against the parliamentary elections that began today and National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) aggression.

All the shops and business establishments remained closed throughout the day while as the vehicular movement was also thin on the roads.

The first phase of seven phased parliamentary elections commenced today. The two Lok Sabha constituencies including Baramulla and Jammu-Udhampur went for the polls today.

The government in view of the polls had also ordered holiday in the poll bound areas.

In view of the elections, the authorities had heightened the security across the Valley to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls.

Witnesses said that the forces deployed on the roads in strength had erected temporary barricades on the roads and were also frisking the commuters throughout the day.

Meanwhile, Geelani continued to remain under house arrest while as Mirwaiz was being questioned at NIA court in New Delhi and JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik continued to remain under custody.

Similarly, reports of shutdown were also received from other districts of southern and northern Kashmir areas.

Besides, the train service was suspended in the Valley. An official said that the train service was suspended for the day as ‘security reasons’.

Moreover, the mobile internet services were also suspended in north Kashmir, where polling was conducted today.

The services were suspended as a ‘precautionary measure’ and continued to remain suspended till the report was last filed.

A top police official however said that the polling day in Kashmir passed off peacefully. (KNS)