NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR, 13 August — Some 81 percent of people living in the Kashmir Valley believe that state elections to be held next month in Kashmir will be rigged, according to a magazine poll.
The poll of 901 people in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, which make up Indian Kashmir, also found that 73 percent of respondents throughout the state think Pakistan will disrupt the elections due to be held in four phases from Sept. 16, according to results published by The Week at the weekend.
Throughout all three regions of the state, 66 percent said the polls would not be free and fair. Kashmir is in the throes of a separatist insurgency.
India has refused to allow international observers for the polls, but 58 percent of those questioned thought that foreign observers should be allowed, while 54 percent said Kashmir’s main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, should participate in the polls.
The Hurriyat has refused to take part, saying the election will be biased and cannot resolve the problem of Kashmir. The Hurriyat yesterday called for a two-day general strike to protest against India’s Independence Day and an alleged increase in Indian repression ahead of upcoming state polls.
The Hurriyat urged Kashmiris to stay at home on Aug. 15 — Independence Day — and Aug. 16.
"Indian independence day is, in fact, a sign of slavery for Kashmiris," a Hurriyat statement said, urging Kashmiris to observe the day as "black day."
Meanwhile, four rebels and a civilian were killed in overnight violence in Kashmir, where police yesterday uncovered chemicals and explosives they said rebels were planning to use to disrupt state polls.
In a related development, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha yesterday said cross-border infiltration of militants from Pakistan had not ended.
