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Srinagar: Hundreds of angry protesters threw rocks at a polling station and clashed with government soldiers in Indian Kashmir on Sunday during the second phase of state elections.
Police and paramilitary soldiers swung batons to drive away the protesters in Kurhama, a village 30 kilometres north of Srinagar, a police official said.
The violence temporarily halted voting at the polling booth, he said on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy.
Muslim separatist leaders have called for a boycott of the elections, saying they will only entrench India's hold on the restive region.
Anti-election protests were also reported in four other villages, the police official said. There were no reports of injuries.
In other villages scores gathered to vote. However, earlier police officer Nazir Ahmad said voter turnout was slow on Sunday amid chilly weather conditions and boycott calls.
Sunday's voting follows heightened tensions after two Muslim protesters were killed when government forces opened fire at an anti-election protest in Baramulla.
The elections, which started on November 17, will be held in seven phases through December 24 to allow the deployment of troops to each area in a bid to curb violence.
Thousands of paramilitary soldiers and police officers wearing bulletproof jackets and carrying automatic weapons patrolled as polling took place in towns north of the Himalayan region's main city, Srinagar.
In Srinagar, thousands of government forces in riot gear patrolled the streets following a call by separatists for a march to the districts voting on Sunday and a general strike on Monday.
Srinagar residents said soldiers were not allowing them to come out of their homes. B. Srinivas, a senior police officer, said police were implementing a ban on gatherings of more than five people "to avoid any law and order situation."
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