印度克什米尔的选民星期二参加第一阶段选举的投票。
出于安全考虑，投票站戒备森严。分离主义分子呼吁抵制这次选举。1989年以来，反政府组织一直为独立或与巴基斯坦合并而同印度军队作战。
印度总理莫迪所属的印度教民族主义党“印度人民党”争取控制由87名议员组成、穆斯林占多数的查谟和克什米尔邦议会。
印度人民党的官员说，如果赢得选举，将谋求让这个有争议的地区与印度完全成为一体。
查谟和克什米尔选举分五个阶段投票，选举结果将于12月23日揭晓。
Voters are casting ballots in the first stage of an election in Indian Kashmir.
Polling places were heavily guarded when they opened Tuesday because of security concerns. Separatists had called for a boycott of the election. Rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces for independence or a merger with Pakistan since 1989.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made an aggressive effort to win control of the 87-member assembly in the Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir state.
Party officials say if it wins it will seek to fully integrate the disputed region with India.
Jammu and Kashmir will vote in five phases, with results expected on December 23.
