At least two people were killed and 79 wounded in a spate of blasts across Indian Kashmir today as suspected Muslim rebels stepped up violence to enforce a poll boycott in the disputed region.
The level of violence in the troubled state has fallen since India and Pakistan began a peace process last year, but there have been attacks in the run-up to India's general election by anti-India militants who say polls in the region are a farce.
Two people were killed and 55 wounded in the worst attack, a huge explosion at an election rally in Doda district, south of Srinagar, the region's main city, police said.
"The explosion took place when former minister Khalid Najib was about to address a rally," a police officer said, adding that the politician was not hurt.