Authorities have imposed curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar in a bid to thwart separatist anti-vote protests in the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir during the final phase of state assembly elections on Wednesday.

Kashmir, divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both, has been wracked by an 18-year bloody separatist campaign that authorities say has left at least 43,000 dead.

The elections began after months of violent protests by anti-Indian groups, fearful state elections will firm up Indian control of the Muslim majority Himalayan state, and by Indian nationalists, fearful that separatist groups will gain control.

Restrictions on pedestrian and vehicular movement were strictly enforced in Srinagar and adjoining areas on Tuesday, which are the last of eight constituencies to vote in what has thus far been unexpectedly high turnout.

Thousands of Indian paramilitary troops and police carrying automatic weapons have been deployed, and Srinagar’s 1.2 million people have been confined to their homes.

“The city has been turned into a garrison ahead of the polls. Elections are a meaningless exercise and without wasting further time, India should initiate steps to resolve the issue,” moderate separatist leader, Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, said in a statement.

Separatist leaders, a majority of whom have already been detained, have called for an anti-poll march to be followed by a sit-in at the historic city center, Lal Chowk.

The only signs of life on the roads were vehicles carrying poll staff and material to various voting sites.

“Today’s restrictions were imposed to maintain law and order, avoid breach of peace and public tranquility and to prevent loss of life and property,” a state government officer said.

The polls were taking place amid a backdrop of rising tensions between the two South Asian nuclear neighbors.

India blames Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyabi (LeT) for last month’s terror attacks on Mumbai that left more than 160 people dead.

India has demanded that Pakistan hand over leaders of the group, while LeT has denied responsibility for the attacks.

Kashmir has been a point of contention between the two countries since the division of the subcontinent in 1947. The neighbors have fought two wars over the territory and narrowly avoided a third war in 1999.

Human rights groups and NGOs contest the official claim of at least 43,000 dead in the separatist campaign, putting the number of dead at twice the official figure

Indian army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor on Tuesday visited strategically important Siachin Glacier, which is the world’s highest battlefield, and forward areas along the Line of Control (LOC) — the de facto border between the two countries.

He said he wanted “to check the operational preparedness of Indian armed forces for any eventuality.”