India proclaims Kashmir elections a vote for peace

SRINAGAR, India -- The final round of elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Tuesday was hailed by New Delhi as a vote for democracy and a demand for peace, but separatists called the balloting "a verdict on nothing."

Though the fourth day of voting for 87 legislative seats in Jammu-Kashmir state began with violence at a polling station, it ended with local officials Tuesday reporting a turnout of 46 percent, considered strong given the bloodshed and separatist calls for a boycott.

"The people of Kashmir have given a message to Pakistan. They want an end to violence and bloodshed and will remain with India," Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was quoted as saying during a visit to Cyprus.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Islamic militants who have been fighting for Indian Kashmir's independence since 1989. Pakistan insists it only provides moral support to those it calls "freedom fighters" and has said the elections are a sham.

The state Election Commission said overall turnout for the four rounds of voting was 44 percent. Results are expected by Saturday.

Three suspected Islamic guerrillas fired automatic weapons and tossed a grenade Tuesday morning near a polling station in Doda, 175 miles southeast of Srinagar. A police officer and an attacker were killed.

India regards the election as crucial for peace prospects in the Himalayan region, which is claimed in its entirety by both Pakistan and India. It believes strong turnout would dampen local support for the insurgency by militants seeking independence or merger with Pakistan.

Abdul Ghani Bhat, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance seeking Kashmiri independence or merger with Pakistan, said the vote was not a verdict for Indian democracy or governance. He claimed voter turnout numbers had been "fudged."

"These elections are a verdict on nothing," Bhat said, noting there were widespread complaints that Indian soldiers had forced some voters to cast ballots.

Jammu-Kashmir state is the heartland of the five-decade conflict between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan. Both sides have amassed 1 million troops on their 1,800-mile frontier in the past year.

More than 60,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have been killed in the Islamic insurgency that began in 1989.