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Kashmir paramilitary patrol attacked
PULWAMA, Kashmir (CNN) -- Suspected militants have attacked an Indian paramilitary patrol killing a passerby and injuring 12 others, police sources say. The attack came at the beginning of the third stage of Kashmiri election campaigning on Sunday in Pulwama district -- about 20 km from the town of Pulwama. Pulwama is one of two districts where the third round of elections are under way. Kashmiri militants opposed to the elections and Indian rule in the region are prevalent in both districts. Over 50,000 Indian paramilitary forces have been summoned to monitor the next two rounds of Kashmiri elections. Voting and campaigning in Kashmir has been staggered to allow India to ensure proper security is in place. Elections officials estimate a 50 percent turnout in the first round of elections, which began September 16 and a 40 percent turnout in the second round which included Kashmir's two largest cities -- Srinagar and Jammu. Close to 500 people have been killed in the run-up to the elections, among them more than 30 political activists and several political candidates. The final phase of voting for the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir state assembly is scheduled for October 8. The militants, who back independence for Kashmir, have called for a boycott of the vote. Kashmir has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan since 1947, leading to two wars between the nuclear neighbors.
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