A huge security operation involving thousands of police, paramilitary and army troops has been launched to ensure the people of five districts can cast their votes in safety.

However, at least half a dozen attacks were launched by suspected militants overnight on polling stations, homes of candidates and on police and army positions, police said.

No injuries were reported in the attacks, which officials said were designed to scare voters away from the polling booths.

Narinder Singh, director of information for the Indian Kashmir state government, confirmed polls had opened on schedule at 7:00 am (0130 GMT), but said very few voters had arrived at opening time because of the early morning cold.

Monday's voting was in the districts of Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri and Kargil. Two Buddhist candidates have already won in the Leh district where they were uncontested.

In the rural town of Patan in western Baramulla district, where two attacks occurred overnight, polling booths opened on schedule but not a single voter was to be seen, an Nampa-AFP correspondent said.

Overnight in the town, suspected Islamic militants lobbed a hand grenade at the house of ruling National Conference MP Abdul Rashid Shaheen but caused no damage or casualties, police said.

There was also a bomb explosion in the main bus stand of Baramulla which did little damage.

The presiding officer at one polling booth in Patan was wearing a bullet-proof jacket while between 15 and 20 heavily-armed police and Border Security Force (BSF) officials stood guard.

In the main town Baramulla, an Nampa-AFP photographer said police and soldiers had flooded the town centre and were conducting house-to-house searches in a bid to flush out any rebels bent on disrupting the vote.

Police said that overnight in the town of Langate, in Kupwara district, militants attacked a school that was to serve as a polling station, throwing a grenade and opening fire with automatic weapons.

The attack sparked panic among the population but caused little damage to the school, aside from broken window panes.

Islamic militants who have been fighting Indian rule in Kashmir for the past 13 years have vowed to disrupt the poll violently and kill those taking part.

In the town of Shopian in southern Pulwama district, militants fired overnight at the car of Congress candidate Mohammad Shafi Bandey, who, however, escaped unhurt, police said.

In the same town, militants also fired at another car carrying ruling National Conference activists. The NC workers abandoned the car, which was later set on fire by the militants.

Militants also attacked a military camp in Pakherpora in Pulwama, which will go to the polls on October 1.

Monday's polling was due to close at 4:00 pm (1030 GMT).

Voting in other districts is due to take place in three other stages, ending on October 8.

str-an/bp/rcw Nampa-AFP WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 160330)

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