In the Muslim-dominated Kashmir Valley, chief electoral officer B.R. Sharma put the turnout at more than 50 percent, with hundreds of people queuing at polling stations from the early morning.

Higher voting numbers were recorded in Hindu-majority Jammu and mainly Buddhist Ladakh -- two regions where the Kashmiri separatists hold little sway.

"The polling has been by and large peaceful," Sharma told reporters at the end of the eight-hour voting.

Kashmir was put under direct federal rule in July, when the state government collapsed following its controversial decision to give land in the region to a Hindu pilgrim trust.

That crisis sparked a revival of Muslim protests reminiscent of the early 1990s, when an insurgency against Indian rule had just begun.

In an apparent bid to prevent large-scale anti-polling demonstrations, the security forces had rounded up some of the more influential anti-India figures ahead of the election.

Over two dozen separatist leaders are currently under arrest, some under a law that allows police to hold people for up to two years without trial.

The state elections are being staggered over seven phases, enabling authorities to mount a huge security operation as successive areas vote.

The last stage of voting is scheduled for December 24 in Srinagar -- the urban hub of anti-India rebels.

Among those voting in Sumbhal, situated 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Srinagar, several said local issues rather than separatist politics had motivated them to defy the boycott call.

"We want freedom but we want development and progress too," said first-time voter Arshad Dar.

"I am voting to elect the government. It is not that I am consenting to India's occupation of Kashmir," said another voter, Ghulam Mohammed.

Both hardline pro-Pakistan rebels and moderate separatist politicians argue that conducting any polls strengthens India's control over the disputed state.

"These are sham elections. You can't hold free and fair polls in presence of thousands of occupying troops," said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a leading moderate separatist who was one of those under house arrest.

In Bandipora town, north of Sumbhal, police fired teargas and used batons to disperse hundreds of anti-election protesters. Six demonstrators, including two women, were sightly hurt, police said.

"They are traitors. Their participation is tantamount to selling out the blood of martyrs," said protester Javed Ahmed, who had tried to stop people casting their ballots.

"My conscience doesn't allow me to be part of any Indian-held elections. I will vote when we will be free," Ahmed said.

Srinagar and other towns were almost totally locked down, as thousands of troops were out in force to prevent anti-election rallies, witnesses said.

Kashmir is held in part by nuclear-armed India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both nations, which have fought two wars over the region.

The countries began talks to settle the region's future in 2004 but there have been no breakthroughs, further frustrating the mood in Kashmir.

One Indian soldier was killed in a gunbattle Monday with militants in Poonch district along the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

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