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Jammu-Kashmir State Holds Round of Voting

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Only a trickle of people in Srinagar, the main city in the Indian-held part of Kashmir, voted in state elections after a morning gun battle left two suspected Islamic militants dead.

Turnout was 11% in Srinagar, but voters in the Jammu and Badgam regions of Jammu and Kashmir state were less daunted, boosting turnout in the three districts that voted to 42%.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee praised those who defied the militants who have called for a boycott and tried to disrupt the polls with attacks on candidates, voters and police.

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The rebels say the staggered elections, which began earlier this month, are rigged in favor of the ruling party.

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