Indian authorities said today that they had detained more than 600 residents of Kashmir in a crackdown on suspected separatists in the disputed Himalayan region.

Police and paramilitary officers made the arrests over the last five days to prevent any anti-India protests or violence during general election voting today, police director-general Ashok Prasad said.

Thousands protested during voting last Thursday, when suspected rebels gunned down a polling official and wounded three soldiers.