71.   He said authorities were investigating whether the trouble was related to Muslim separatists in Xinjiang.

72.   He said police had not established who was responsible for the explosions, but believed they could point to a business conflict or a threat by Muslim separatists.

73.   Holding hands and sobbing, the wives of the two of the five Western hostages being held by Muslim separatists in Kashmir urged them Thursday to free the captives.

74.   Hurd urged respect for human rights in Kashmir, where Indian troops are accused of widespread abuses in fighting Muslim separatists.

75.   In Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir where Muslim separatists have been fighting a separatist war for nine years, stores have been shut since Monday.

76.   In the disputed state of Kashmir, armed troops confronted Muslim separatists boycotting the polls, and reluctant citizens complained that soldiers forced them to vote against their will.

77.   In Jammu-Kashmir, further north, the military is fighting Muslim separatists.

78.   In Srinagar on Monday morning, Muslim separatists allegedly fired a rocket that exploded in midair and sparked confusion that delayed a small Republic Day parade.

79.   India accuses Pakistan of training and arming Muslim separatists waging a bloody uprising on its side of the disputed border.

80.   India says enemy is Pakistani soldiers disguised as Muslim separatists.