Indian Kashmir was voting in the second stage of state elections Sunday under the guard of thousands of troops. The second round of the vote comes amid heightened tensions, with two anti-election protesters shot dead by police on Saturday in the town of Baramulla, 55 kilometres (34 miles) north of the summer capital Srinagar.
Muslim militants and separatist politicians have called for a boycott of the polls, arguing elections strengthen India's hold over the region. However, the first round of voting last week saw more than 60 percent turnout.
Indian Kashmir was put under federal rule in July following the collapse of the state government over a land row that triggered a revival of anti-India demonstrations that left 50 Muslims dead in ensuing security force action. Anti-India sentiment is running deep in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley, where most people favour independence from mainly Hindu India or a merger with predominantly Muslim Pakistan.
Voters at a polling booth in Ganderbal town, 25 kilometres north-east of Srinagar, said they wanted an end to the violence. "Since July scores of Muslims have been mercilessly killed in firing incidents on peaceful demonstrations," said Ghulam Qadir, 54.
"We will elect people who will not be cruel," he said, as scores of young Kashmiris outside chanted slogans such as "no election, no selection, we want freedom." In nearby Kangan township, more than 100 people could be seen queuing to cast their ballots under the guard of federal troops with machine guns.