Protesters in Indian Kashmir try to block vote, police crack down

By Fayaz Bukhari SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Police fired teargas in India's Kashmir region on Wednesday to break up small groups of young men protesting against a general election as voters largely stayed away from polling stations in the troubled valley. More than 1,000 people including separatist leaders who called for an election boycott were taken into custody or placed under house arrest ahead of the vote in Srinagar, the region's main city and hotbed of a nearly 25-year-old rebellion. We want independence for Kashmir," said Hilal Ahmad, a 22-year-old protester at a deserted street crossing. India has long struggled to bring Kashmiris into the democratic mainstream and elections in the past have been marred by violence and low turn-out. Read More http://ift.tt/1o2WyPS