Today is the last day of electioneering in eight assembly segments in the Kashmir valley which goes to the polls on December 24 in the last phase of elections along with 13 other constituencies.
Reporters who visited a number of these localities, saw the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police personnel deployed in large numbers.
Almost all roads leading to downtown and Sher-e-Khas have been sealed with barbed wire and nobody was being allowed to enter or leave from these areas.
No vehicle was being allowed from Khanyar police station where the CRPF had blocked the road with barbed wire.
''We have instructions not to allow anybody from this point,'' said a security force official to this correspondent. However, after the intervention by a senior police officer he was allowed to enter the sealed areas.
The officer said there was no curfew as was being alleged by the local residents. However, he said to maintain law and order and to prevent miscreants from induling in stone-pelting, deployment of security forces was further strengthened.
Similar restrictions were imposed in Rangar stop and near Nowhatta police station.
A resident of Nawa Kadal Muzaffar Ahmad told mediapersons over phone that they were not even allowed to purchase milk and bread from the market by the security forces who are asking residents to remain indoors as curfew has been imposed since 0500 hrs.
Official sources said in the morning a group of youths raised ''pro freedom'' and anti-poll slogans besides pelting stones at the passing vehicles.
About half-a-dozen vehicles, including a fire tender, were damaged in the stone pelting, before security forces imposed restrictions.
However, life in the rest of the city was normal.-- (UNI)
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