India-administered Kashmir to hold first local elections in a decade

The decision to hold elections follows a December order by India's Supreme Court that rejected petitions challenging the revocation of Kashmir's special status and set a deadline of September 30 for holding provincial polls [File: Sharafat Ali/Reuters]

Indian-administered Kashmir will hold local elections starting on September 18, according to the Election Commission, the first regional polls there in a decade and five years after New Delhi scrapped the region’s special autonomy.

“After a long gap, elections are due and will be held in Jammu and Kashmir,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told reporters in New Delhi on Friday.