Indian authorities Friday deployed thousands of troops in the Kashmiri summer capital Srinagar to prevent protests called by Muslim separatists ahead of the final phase of state elections. Separatist groups had urged a total boycott of the polls, arguing that they would strengthen New Delhi's hold over the disputed region. However, the first six rounds of voting saw a more than 50 percent turnout in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley. The final round is scheduled to take place on December 24 in Srinagar and Jammu – the winter capital. “The elections have no legitimacy in Kashmir as they are being held in presence of over ten lakh (one million) troops. People have been coerced and lured to vote in the name of development and jobs,” said moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Farooq and hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani were placed under house arrest on Friday. Others have been detained since voting began last month. Residents said they were being confined to their homes by the security forces, even though there was no formal curfew in force. “The troops outnumber the population of Srinagar,” said Farooq. In southern Kashmir, the Indian military said it had killed Friday a top field commander from the Muslim militant group blamed for the Mumbai attacks. The senior militant, identified only as Mudassir, was killed along with two other gunmen from the Lashkar-e-Taiba rebel group fighting Indian rule in divided Kashmir, the spokesman said. Troops raided Kashmiri hide-outs of a group accused in last month's deadly Mumbai attacks, killing at least four rebels, police said Friday.
