New Delhi, July 29 -- India on Tuesday dismissed elections being held in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir as an effort to cover up the illegal occupation of the region and serious human rights violations, and said violent protests during the polls were an outcome of Islamabad's economic exploitation and denial of rights.

About 40 people have died since June in clashes between Pakistani security forces and protesters demanding the abolition of seats in the local assembly reserved for refugees from the Indian region of Jammu and Kashmir. The elections to the legislative assembly are being conducted in three phases, with the first held on Monday. There were reports of Pakistani forces opening fire and using tear gas to disperse hundreds ...