Kashmir votes in second phase of regional polls under heavy security
People in Kashmir have started casting ballots in the second round of regional elections amid elaborate security measures.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0130 GMT) on Wednesday, as the region's 8.7 million registered voters prepared for electing their first local government under heavy security since the 2019 cancellation of the Muslim-majority territory’s special semi-autonomous status by the government in New Delhi.
In the biggest regional main city of Srinagar, some voters queued outside polling stations early in the morning, as paramilitary troops stood guard at polling booths and patrolled largely deserted streets.
Turnout is expected to be high unlike in past elections when separatists opposed to Indian rule boycotted polls.
Back in August, India announced three-phased assembly elections in the Kashmir region.
Last week, the mountainous territory witnessed the first phase of its assembly election for 24 seats in six districts. The polls were the first for the region's assembly in a decade.
The third phase of polling will be held on October 1, with results expected to be declared on October 8.
About 500,000 Indian troops are deployed in the region, which has witnessed a 35-year violence that has killed tens of thousands, including civilians and soldiers.
A federally appointed governor has controlled the disputed territory since August 2019 when the Hindu-nationalist government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the abrogation of the region's special status under Article 370.
Modi urged people in all constituencies in a post on X to vote in large numbers and strengthen what he claimed to be the “festival of democracy.”
Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir in its entirety and have fought at least three wars over the territory.
New Delhi accuses Islamabad of supporting pro-independence fighters, an allegation rejected by the Pakistani government. Islamabad, in turn, is critical of India’s heavy military deployment to Kashmir and its crackdown on the region’s Muslim population.
Pakistan has described the move by the government in New Delhi to revoke the self-autonomy of Kashmir as illegal. Since the revocation, India has imposed more internet shutdowns and other restrictions in the region.
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