This report by examines how Kashmiris are coerced by Indian forces to participate in the elections and vote. The report also sheds light on militant groups in Indian-Administered Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Indian state-sponsored counter-insurgency groups.  It is based on a fact-finding trip conducted from May 19 through 23, 1996 during elections and other investigations.

Topics: counter insurgents, the prelude to elections, day of polls, counter-insurgent outfits, reports in the media
Terms: state-sponsored armed groups, surrogates of the Indian army, 'setting a Kashmiri to kill a Kashmiri' strategy, state-sponsored gangs, murder, loot and extortion, state disinformation, propaganda of state-sponsored gangs as people acting in self-defense, propaganda of armed resistance denying democratic rights, denial of political rights, elections to subvert democratic rights, election manipulation, propaganda of elections as act of political allegiance, J&K Disturbed Areas Act, J&K Public Safety Act (PSA), Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (TADA), Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), excessive use of force by security personnel, lack of press freedom, staged encounters, fake encounter killings, Rashtriya Rifles, denial of right to self-determination