At Least 4 Die as Kashmiris Vote

Troops opened fire on Kashmiris who gathered in the in their summer capita, Srinagar, in northern India, on Saturday to protest attempts by pro-government groups to force young men to fight insurgents. At least one person was killed.

All told, at least four people were killed and more than 50 injured in violent incidents in the separatist state of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, according to news reports.

Kashmiris are in the midst of voting in national parliamentary elections, the first on their territory since separatists began fighting in 1989.

Many have described the vote as unfair, charging that Indian troops are forcing voters to the polls. India denies the charges.

Separatists, who have ordered Kashmiris to boycott the elections, want Kashmir, India’s only predominantly Muslim state, to become independent or join neighboring Islamic Pakistan.