Four die in Kashmir clashes

At least four people in Indian-controlled Kashmir died today when gunmen opened fire on a bus as polls opened for the third phase in state elections, police said.

The bus was travelling on the national highway from the Indian capital Jammu, the winter capital of India’s disputed Jammu-Kashmir state, when it was attacked at the town of Hiranagar, 45 miles south of Jammu and near the border with Pakistan.

Islamic militants were suspected in the attack, a police officer at the Kaphua district control room.

At least 10 passengers were injured, the officer said.

It was not yet clear how many gunmen were involved, police said. The guerrillas fired automatic weapons and lobbed grenades at the bus before they fled into a forest. Indian security forces searched for the men.

Islamic militants have waged a 12-year insurgency in the disputed Himalayan province, seeking Indian-controlled Kashmir’s independence or merger with Muslim Pakistan.

At least 60,000 people have been killed in the separatist movement and thousands are still missing.

The militants called for a boycott of the polls, calling them rigged to favour the pro-India, ruling National Conference party.

More than 100 political activists and candidates have been killed in election-related violence since the polls were announced in August.