The Indian government posted extra forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday as its decision to split the state into two federally-administered regions formally took effect.
Just after midnight on Wednesday, the state became two union territories - one Jammu and Kashmir, and the other the Buddhist-dominated enclave of Ladakh.
"The unfulfilled dream of integrating Jammu and Kashmir has been accomplished," said Home Minister Amit Shah.
Mr Shah, a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is leading the government's political strategy to deal with a three-decade insurgency in Kashmir. India and Pakistan each control a part of the region but claim it in its entirety.
Headed by a lieutenant governor appointed by the federal government, the new Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have its own elected assembly with a five-year term, but most powers will be retained by New Delhi.
Ladakh, a high-altitude desert region that borders China, will be under the federal government's direct administration with its own lieutenant governor.
"We are happy that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are moving towards a new future from today onwards. Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir today are taking steps for their bright future," Mr Modi said on Thursday.
His government sent thousands of additional troops to Kashmir, arrested hundreds of politicians and activists and cut off phone and internet services as it announced its decision on August 5 to scrap a constitutional provision that gave the state special status.
The move, later approved by parliament, took away Jammu and Kashmir's right to its own constitution, laws and flag. It also removes Kashmiris' exclusive land rights, allowing people from elsewhere to buy property.
Access to around half of mobile phones was only restored on October 14 and the internet remains cut for the Kashmir Valley's more than seven million people.
The UN High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva said on Tuesday that it was "extremely concerned" at the situation.
"We urge the Indian authorities to unlock the situation and fully restore the rights that are currently being denied," it said.
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Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
Fight Night
FIGHT NIGHT
Four title fights:
Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title
Six undercard bouts:
Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
