Srinagar, Amidst what is perceived as a heavy-handed approach by Indian authorities, a multilayered security arrangement was deployed in Srinagar, the capital of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), during local elections on Monday. Critics have labeled these elections as sham-polls intended to mislead global opinion about the region’s political climate.

According to Kashmir Media Service, this significant show of force, involving thousands of armed personnel, marks the first such election since the controversial abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which revoked the region’s autonomous status. Nearly 17.48 lakh residents in the Srinagar constituency were eligible to vote under intense security, which many local leaders and residents have criticized as an attempt to create a façade of normalcy and willingness among the populace.

The security measures included the deployment of 2,135 polling stations across Srinagar and neighboring districts, with special arrangements for migrant voters outside the region. Despite the extensive preparations and redrawn constituency boundaries following a delimitation exercise in 2022, local reports and the Inspector General of Police indicate that the turnout was minimal, reflecting widespread apathy and resistance from the electorate.

Authorities reportedly went to great lengths, including forcibly escorting people to polling stations, to boost participation a move that has sparked further dissent and fear among the local population.