Indian-controlled Kashmir votes in final phase of polls to elect local government

Associated Press

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Voting has begun in Indian-controlled Kashmir in the final phase of an election to choose a local government. This is the first local election in this part of the disputed Himalayan region since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government stripped it of its special status five years ago. Over 3.9 million residents are eligible to vote to choose 40 lawmakers out of 415 candidates in the region’s seven districts during the third phase of the election on Tuesday. Thousands of additional armed government forces patrolled the voting districts and guarded over 5,000 polling stations. The votes will be counted next Tuesday, with the results expected latere that day.