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Tight security as Kashmir votes Clashes mark final Kashmir poll
(about 1 hour later)
The seventh and final round of voting in state elections in Indian-administered Kashmir has begun amidst tight security. Sporadic clashes between protesters and police have marked a seventh and final round of voting in state elections in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Thousands of troops have been deployed across the state to prevent violence by militants fighting Indian rule. At least nine people were hurt when troops baton-charged stone-throwing protesters in Srinagar, police say. Two police were among those injured.
Police have arrested three men who they say were planning suicide bomb attacks in the city of Jammu during polling. Thousands of troops have been deployed across the state to prevent violence.
Separatist groups are boycotting the poll arguing that it only serves to legitimise Indian control of Kashmir. Separatists opposed to Indian rule are boycotting the poll saying it serves to legitimise India's presence in Kashmir.
The dispute over Kashmir has been at the heart of tensions between India and Pakistan for decades, and relations between the two countries are currently in crisis following the armed attacks on Mumbai (Bombay) last month which killed more than 170 people.
Turnout
Voting has been staggered over several weeks to allow the authorities to move thousands of members of the security forces from place to place to maintain law and order.
The biggest city in the Kashmir valley, Srinagar, is under unofficial curfew, with security forces posted at every junction.The biggest city in the Kashmir valley, Srinagar, is under unofficial curfew, with security forces posted at every junction.
Srinagar notebook - election bluesIndia state elections guide
Thousands of police and soldiers armed with assault rifles patrolled deserted streets in the Muslim-majority city and warned residents to stay indoors.Thousands of police and soldiers armed with assault rifles patrolled deserted streets in the Muslim-majority city and warned residents to stay indoors.
Shops, businesses, government offices and banks remained closed. Some roads have been sealed off to prevent people gathering in large numbers to protest against the elections.
Most Kashmiris say the restrictions are oppressive and unnecessary. Elsewhere in Kashmir the turnout in these elections has been higher than expected, but reports from Srinagar said turnout was low.
At the last state elections fewer than 10% of registered voters in the city went to the polls.
Shops, businesses, government offices and banks remained closed on Wednesday. Most Kashmiris say the restrictions are oppressive and unnecessary.
But the authorities insist there are threats which they have to guard against.But the authorities insist there are threats which they have to guard against.
'Militant' arrests
Reports say the turnout of voters has been low in Srinagar.
Meharj-u-Din, who turned out to cast his ballot, said he was voting for "better people to rule us".Meharj-u-Din, who turned out to cast his ballot, said he was voting for "better people to rule us".
"I have voted for a candidate who can develop our area," he told the AFP news agency."I have voted for a candidate who can develop our area," he told the AFP news agency.
But other residents like Idrees Shangloo said they were not casting their votes.But other residents like Idrees Shangloo said they were not casting their votes.
"We are for freedom from India. We will never take part in Indian-held elections," he said."We are for freedom from India. We will never take part in Indian-held elections," he said.
Separatist groups boycotted the polls Arrests
Police in Indian-administered Kashmir said they had been conducting raids in the entire state over the past few days to thwart trouble ahead of the polls. On Tuesday, police arrested three men who they said were planning suicide bomb attacks in the Hindu-majority city of Jammu during polling.
It was during these raids, according to officers, that three men they describe as militants from Pakistan were picked up.
They said the men were planning to launch suicide bomb attacks in the Hindu-majority city of Jammu.
According to the police, one of those detained was a Pakistani army soldier, and all were members of the Jaish-e-Mohammed organisation - a group violently opposed to India's presence in Kashmir.According to the police, one of those detained was a Pakistani army soldier, and all were members of the Jaish-e-Mohammed organisation - a group violently opposed to India's presence in Kashmir.
There was no immediate response from the Pakistani army to the Indian allegation. Pakistan denied the man was a serving soldier.
The dispute over Kashmir has been at the heart of tensions between India and Pakistan for decades, and relations between the two countries are currently in crisis following the armed attacks on Mumbai (Bombay) last month which killed more than 170 people.
Kashmiri separatists who are boycotting the state elections say they are planning to march in Srinagar as a mark of protest.
Violence in Kashmir has decreased recently but militants are still fighting to end India's rule in the portion of Kashmir it controls.Violence in Kashmir has decreased recently but militants are still fighting to end India's rule in the portion of Kashmir it controls.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed since 1989, when an armed insurgency against Indian rule began.Tens of thousands of people have been killed since 1989, when an armed insurgency against Indian rule began.
Are you in the region? Will you be voting? Send us your comments using the form below:Are you in the region? Will you be voting? Send us your comments using the form below:
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