Violence continues before Kashmir poll

The aftermath of a militant attack on Saturday

Eight people have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir since Saturday evening as election officials prepare for the third round of polling.

Voting will be held on Tuesday for 27 constituencies of the state assembly.

In an effort to attract more voters the state Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his son Omer Abdullah undertook a whirlwind helicopter tour addressing election rallies.

"I think it is important to get to every area and carry the message. We have tried to cover every area. Some were covered by Omar, some were covered by me," Farooq Abdullah told India's television channel Star News.

I think it is important to get to every area and carry the message. We have tried to cover every area..

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah

Indian officials say that a 40% turnout was recorded in the first two rounds, despite the separatist militant's threat to disrupt the elections.

But the separatist groups have accused the Indian army for dragging many reluctant voters to polling booths.

India's Election Commission has ordered tight security, particularly in some of the worst affected areas of Anantnag and Pulwama district of Kashmir valley.

Grenade blast

In one incident on Sunday, one person was killed and another 13 injured in a grenade blast.

The incident happened when suspected militants threw a grenade at security forces at Tral about 40 kilometres from Srinagar.

Suspected militants also shot dead an activist from the ruling National Conference party. Bahaudin Shah was gunned down in the village of Akhal, 45 kilometres northeast of Srinagar.

Ms Mushtaque survives the attack

Militants also threw a grenade on Saturday evening in the Bijbehara constituency at a group including independent candidate Bashir Ahmed. Six people were injured.

Meanwhile, authorities say a woman candidate who was injured in another militant attack on Saturday is still in hospital.

Khalida Mushtaque was seriously injured when militants triggered a land mine explosion as her motorcade passed through a village in the Kulgam area.

Ms Mushtaque is the second woman so far to have been targeted - apart from the state's tourism minister - Sakina Itoo - who has so far survived three attacks.

Militants have so far killed two election candidates including the state's law minister.