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2008-11-18 India-Pakistan
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Violent clashes occur as Kashmir votes
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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir (CNN) -- Indian police clashed with separatist groups as voters went to the polls in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday. Muslim separatist groups blocked polling stations and shouted anti-election slogans as they protested Indian rule and alleged voter intimidation.
| So separatists blocked the polls alleging voter intimidation. Boggle ... |
Police dispersed the angry demonstrators with batons in North Kashmir's Bandipore district, one of the areas where the first phase of voting is taking place.
| I'm hoping Mukkarjee got the kinks out of his baton swing ... |
The state elections began after months of violent protests, both by anti-Indian groups, fearful state elections will firm up Indian control of the Muslim majority state, and by Indian nationalists, fearful that separatist groups will gain control over the Himalayan state.
"We are voting to elect our local representative to take care of our local needs of roads, water and power supply. Our vote cannot resolve the Kashmir problem," said local resident Mohammed Afzal.
Despite the violence, long lines of voters wrapped around polling stations in Bandipore early Monday morning. Forty-four percent of Bandipore district residents voted Monday, according to chief election officer B.R. Sharma. Voter turnout in the seven other constituencies where voting opened without major protests Monday was around 55 percent, Sharma said.
Indian-controlled Kashmir will have a seven-phase polling process leading to a newly elected government by the new year. 
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Posted by Steve White 2008-11-18 00:00||
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