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India elections: Kashmir police crack down on separatists before poll India elections: Kashmir police crack down on separatists before poll
(about 1 hour later)
Police in Indian Kashmir have detained more than 500 residents as well as separatist leaders before the latest round of voting in the restive region, officers and separatists said on Tuesday. Police in Indian Kashmir have detained more than 500 people including separatist leaders before the latest round of voting in the restive region, officers and separatists said on Tuesday.
Police said the crackdown took place in Kashmir's main city of Srinagar and throughout the constituency that votes on Wednesday as part of the country's continuing staggered six-week general election. Police said the crackdown took place in Kashmir's main city of Srinagar and throughout the constituency that votes on Wednesday as part of the India's six-week general election.
"To ensure peaceful and violence-free polling in Central Kashmir, police have been taking preventive measures and arrested around 400 stone pelters and trouble mongers," a police statement said. "To ensure peaceful and violence-free polling in central Kashmir, police have been taking preventive measures and arrested around 400 stone-pelters and trouble-mongers," a police statement said.
"Nobody will be allowed to disrupt the electoral process. The arrests have been made and will continue to be effected to instil confidence among the voters.""Nobody will be allowed to disrupt the electoral process. The arrests have been made and will continue to be effected to instil confidence among the voters."
In addition, police targeted some 130 residents who they suspected would lead protests on Wednesday against the polls, arresting them in raids on their homes, a senior officer said on condition of anonymity. Police targeted 130 people who they suspected would lead protests on Wednesday against the polls, arresting them in raids on their homes, a senior officer said.
"About 130 people were arrested since Monday in Srinagar," the officer said. The Muslim-majority Kashmir valley, where a separatist movement against Indian rule is centred, posed a heightened challenge for security forces during previous rounds of polling this month.
The Muslim-majority and volatile Kashmir valley, where a separatist movement against Indian rule is centred, has posed a heightened challenge for security forces during previous rounds of polling earlier this month.
Top separatist leaders, who reject the elections as well as Indian rule over Kashmir, have been detained in police stations or confined to their houses, separate statements from two main separatist groupings said.Top separatist leaders, who reject the elections as well as Indian rule over Kashmir, have been detained in police stations or confined to their houses, separate statements from two main separatist groupings said.
Voting has been light so far in the valley for the election after a campaign of intimidation by local militant groups, who killed three people last week and warned locals not to take part. Voting has been light so far in the valley after a campaign of intimidation by local militant groups, who killed three people last week and warned locals not to take part.
Police faced stone-throwing protesters in the southern Kashmir valley during voting on 24 April. They used teargas and batons to disperse crowds protesting against the poll.Police faced stone-throwing protesters in the southern Kashmir valley during voting on 24 April. They used teargas and batons to disperse crowds protesting against the poll.
About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 either for independence or for the merger of the territory with Pakistan. About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 either for independence or for the merger of the territory with Pakistan. The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead.
The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead.
Kashmir was divided between India and Pakistan soon after the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947.Kashmir was divided between India and Pakistan soon after the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947.