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Sheela Bhatt in Srinagar
Srinagar closed for business at 2 pm on Monday.
Cyber cafes, bakeries, phone booths, grocery stores all pulled down their shutters almost 12 hours ahead of Tuesday's bandh called by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
The panic was caused by a few posters in the Jama Masjid area asking people to remain indoors during tomorrow's voting for the second phase of election in Jammu and Kashmir.
The administration may issue statements about the 'tight security', the Election Commission may hold forth on how the voter turnout in the second phase of election will be higher than that in the first, but the ground reality is that it takes just a few jehadi posters to shut this city.
In Lal Chowk, the city centre, people in small groups do not discuss whether to vote or not, they crib about security checks at every street corner.
"We don't want to take chances. In this city a buzzing bazaar takes less than a minute to get deserted. This is not the first time...this drill has become a part of our lives," says Mansoor as he pulls down the shutter on his telephone booth.
Srinagar, as anybody who has been reading news reports on J&K election would know, is crucial to all parties concerned with this poll.
It is crucial to the Hurriyat Conference because it is the separatist conglomerate's stronghold. Thus the bandh call for Tuesday.
It's crucial for the ruling National Conference because in the last election it had won all eight seats here. The Hurriyat bandh suits it fine, for traditionally a low turnout benefits NC candidates.
It's crucial for the Jammu and Kashmir administration and even Delhi because a decent turnout in the state's capital can be showcased as the 'triumph of democracy' to the international community.
Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti says: "Out of nine seats in Srinagar [district], Ganderbal and Kagan will witness good voting. In Srinagar, I don't expect much turn-out. One, people are scared. Second, the city has faced the brunt of militancy. Srinagar's residents are very agitated. And a good percentage may not like to vote out of conviction or ideological reasons."
Amirakadal, Dal Lake and Charare Sharief areas may also witness a decent voter turnout, she said.
"In Habakadal people told me they would like to vote. But now I don't know whether they would dare to come out. If people in Srinagar come out to vote than the big change is inevitable -- the National Conference will be out of power," Mehbooba said.
If Srinagar surprises all and registers a big voter turnout, what would it mean for Jammu and Kashmir?
"People are now tired, I would say Kashmiris have taken a pause. They are reviewing what they have gained and what they lost [in a decade of militancy]. They are looking for alternatives. People are realising that violence may not get them anywhere, it will destroy Kashmir just as it has destroyed their lives. It's up to the Centre now to provide that alternative," Mehbooba said.
ALSO SEE: Tense Srinagar waits for polling day
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