Dozens of voters in Poonch, a town in the volatile region bordering Pakistan, began trickling in to polling stations where they were frisked by security men as election officials got electronic voting machines ready to start the balloting.

Islamic militants have vowed to derail the election in disputed Jammu and Kashmir, the focus of a military standoff and fears of war between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan.

Late on Sunday, hours before the first round began, Indian security forces killed nine suspected militants in a clash.

More than 440 people, including the state's law minister, have died in pre-poll violence. Voting, which began at 7:00 a.m. (0130 GMT) and is due to end at 4:00 p.m. in 26 constituencies, is being staggered over four days to October 8.

Moderate separatists are not contesting the race for the 87-seat assembly and have urged a boycott and called a strike on Monday.

India wants a strong turnout to bolster its rule in Kashmir. But analysts say fear and disillusionment is likely to lead to a lacklustre turnout that will boost neither India's nor Pakistan's claim to the Himalayan region.

(China Daily September 16, 2002)