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A tale of two Kashmiri cities
JAMMU, Indian-controlled Kashmir (CNN) -- On election day the contrast between Kashmir's two largest towns, Srinagar and Jammu could not be greater. Jammu is home to most of the Hindus in the Muslim dominated Indian state of Kashmir. The separatist movement that's popular in and around Srinagar, has not taken root here. Militants demanding freedom for Kashmir have targeted the Jammu region in the past. However, voting this week in Jammu has been peaceful, in stark comparison to the violent beginning to election day in Kashmir. (Full story) In May, suspected militants shot and killed more than 30 people, when they attacked an army base in Jammu housing officers' families.
And in July this year armed gunmen killed 28 men, women and children in a Jammu slum. Violence has been on the rise in the winter capital, as in the rest of Kashmir in the run-up to ongoing state elections. Militant groups have threatened that anyone taking part in the elections may face death. On election day hundreds of extra paramilitary personnel have been sent in to guard voting centers and election officials. Also, watching are delegates from 15 other countries, including Britain and the United States. Troops on the border with Pakistan say they are on high alert too, watching for any militants India claims are entering from Pakistan -- a claim Pakistan denies. In the border region of R. S. Pora villagers frequently face shelling between India and Pakistan. But like Jammu, many turned out to vote there as well.
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