Indian Kashmir quiet as separatists call for boycott of elections

Sringagar: Shops, businesses and government offices are closed in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, with separatists calling for a boycott of national elections.

Senior police official B. Srinivas says thousands of government forces in riot gear are patrolling the streets of Srinagar, the main city in Indian Kashmir, to stop protesters from demonstrating against Thursday's vote.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a key separatist leader, called for the two-day strike against the elections, which he has denounced as "farcical."

India's national elections are being held over a month, ending May 14.

Both militants and nonviolent separatists boycotted last year's state elections in Jammu-Kashmir, but the Kashmiri people largely ignored the call.