Kashmir capital sealed off for PM's trip

Combat troops backed up commandos and border guards in Srinagar, where residents in several districts found themselves corralled into "sanitized zones" Tuesday amid unprecedented security before Singh's two-day trip.

"There is very tight security in view of the round-table conference and the prime minister's visit and operations are going on across the (Kashmir) valley," Indian army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Vijay Batra told AFP.

He said Singh would head straight for a meeting of security commanders to review the situation in Kashmir.

Muslim militants, waging an insurgency since 1989, have vowed to disrupt the talks aimed at restoring peace in the restive state.

Seven people died and 22 were wounded Sunday when rebels opposing peace efforts attacked hundreds of people at a political event in Srinagar.

The restrictions in the city of one million led to frayed tempers as office workers were forced to travel many extra miles on circuitous routes.

"Why can't the prime minister stay home in New Delhi and hold all his talks there?" asked resident Ghulam Rasool as he escorted his daughter to school near Srinagar's heavily-fortified airport zone.