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SRINAGAR, India, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Indian Kashmiris began voting for a new state assembly on Monday in the shadow of fear, with separatist rebels vowing to derail a poll India hopes will offer a ringing endorsement of its rule.

Voters were frisked before entering polling booths in the cold, late-autumn morning, on the first of four voting days between now and October 8 in the disputed Himalayan region at the centre of a military face-off between India and Pakistan.

Scores of paramilitary police, wearing flak jackets and toting automatic weapons, guarded each polling station following a bloody campaign in which more than 440 people have been killed.

Separatist rebels have vowed to block the election and kill candidates and others involved in the poll. Moderate separatists are not contesting the election and have urged a boycott.

Some polls opened after the official time of 7:00 a.m. (0130 GMT) as election officials made last-minute preparations.

Just hours before the voting began, Indian forces killed nine suspected Islamic militants.

A defence spokesman said the overnight clash took place near the line of control dividing Indian and Pakistani-ruled Kashmir, about 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir state's summer capital. No further details were available.

Those killed in pre-poll violence included the state's law minister, and authorities say they expect more attacks.

On Sunday, militants ambushed the tourism minister, killing two of her bodyguards. The minister herself was unhurt.

Polling booths are due to close at 4:00 p.m. (1030 GMT) in the 25 constituencies voting on the first of four staggered days to October 8. Counting for all four stages will be done together and results are expected on October 10.

India wants a big turnout to bolster its rule in the mainly Hindu nation's only Muslim majority state.

VOTERS FRIGHTENED, DISILLUSIONED

But many Kashmiris, frightened by the violence and disillusioned by Indian rule, say they will not vote.

"There is no point," said one man in a small village about 80 km (50 miles) from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state.

"The situation is getting worse. The (state) government doesn't do anything for us and they don't protect us either. The militants are just as bad. Every family has lost someone."

More than 2,000 people have died so far this year and more than 35,000 since the revolt began 13 years ago.

Moderate separatists have called a strike for Monday that is likely to be observed, as much out of fear as support.

Kashmir's ruling National Conference party, also a member of the federal coalition government, is likely to be returned in the absence of any strong opposition.

Twenty-six constituencies had been due to vote on Monday, but polling has been delayed until October 8 for the electorate of slain Law Minister Mushtaq Lone.

Turnout in the last state election in 1996 was 54 percent. Average turnout at India's five other state polls this year has been 67 percent.

"I believe the enthusiasm of the people will overshadow the assassination of Mushtaq Lone and people will come out and vote," National Conference president and India's junior foreign minister, Omar Abdullah, told Star News Television.

A solution to the Kashmir dispute is critical to peace in South Asia, home to a fifth of the world's people.

MILITARY STANDOFF

India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring Islamic militants fighting India's rule in Kashmir, the picturesque, fertile region that triggered two of the three wars between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947.

Pakistan, which India accuses of trying to sabotage the poll, has dismissed the election as a rigged farce. The last two elections in 1987 and 1996 were widely regarded as rigged.

A strong voter turnout would boost India's position, a poor one Pakistan's. Either way, the poll is unlikely to ease tension.

The nuclear neighbours have massed a million men along their border, from Kashmir in the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea, after a December raid on India's parliament. India blamed Pakistan-based militants.

The neighbours came close to war in May and June after a bloody attack on an Indian army camp in Kashmir.

India has said it will not pull back its troops until Pakistan stops militants crossing the frontier and tears down their training camps.

Pakistan denies sponsoring the militants, but has pledged to stop them crossing into Indian Kashmir.

India regards the level of election violence as a critical indicator of Pakistan's commitment to that pledge.

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