06 February 2005	Sunday	26 Zilhaj 1425

SRINAGAR, Feb 5: Two people were killed and a Muslim candidate in ongoing municipal elections wounded in a surge of violence in Indian-held Kashmir, police said on Saturday.

A police official said a top-ranking commander of the Hizbul Mujahedin was shot dead by Indian troops overnight in the southern Kashmir district of Rajouri.

In the same district, police said suspected militants abducted three Hindus late on Friday.

"One of them was shot dead, while two others managed to give slip to their captors," a police spokesman said.

In Srinagar, suspected militants overnight shot and wounded Sheikh Mohammed Amin, police said. Amin had contested the second stage of the municipal elections held on Tuesday in Srinagar.

The latest violence comes on the eve of Sunday's third phase of the vote, which will be held in the southern districts of Anantnag and Pulwama.

Separatist politicians and rebel groups have called on voters to shun the elections, the first in more than a quarter of a century, saying the polls are no substitute for the right to self-determination.

Freedom-fighters bombed a rally killing three party workers and killed two candidates during campaigning for the elections, which are being held in stages for security reasons.

The ballot has drawn reasonable turnouts so far, election officials say.

Local elections have not been held in Indian-held Kashmir for the past 27 years, partly because of the insurgency but also due to fears of the previously ruling National Conference of creating of a rival power base.-AFP