Islamic militants blamed for Kashmir explosion

Suspected Islamic militants today blew up the vehicle of a candidate in state assembly elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing three of her supporters and one armed police escort, police said.

Khaleda Mustafa, a member of the opposition Nationalist Congress Party, was seriously wounded in the attack as she campaigned in her constituency in Anantnag district, 70 kilometres (45 miles) south of Srinagar, a police officer said on condition of anonymity.

Anantnag is one of the districts which go to the polls in the third round of voting, scheduled to be held in India’s Jammu-Kashmir state on October 1. The elections, which began this month will be completed on October 8.

Pakistan-based Islamic rebels, fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, have vowed to sabotage the elections and threatened voters with death.

One passer-by was wounded in the attack, carried out by a remote-controlled explosive device, the officer said. Three of Mustafa’s supporters and a police escort in the vehicle were killed.

The Islamic guerrillas and separatist political parties, which have boycotted the elections, say the polls are rigged in favour of the ruling pro-India National Conference party.

They also reject Indian sovereignty over the part of Kashmir controlled by New Delhi.

The remaining part of the former princely state of Jammu-Kashmir is under the control of Pakistan and China.

The insurgents, fighting for Kashmir’s independence from India or its merger with Pakistan, have killed two candidates and more than 160 political workers since elections were announced in Indian-held Kashmir in August.