OFFICIALS attempting to establish the fate of student hostage Paul Wells are bracing themselves for a month of unrest during the Jammu Kashmir elections.
Authorities in the province were forced to effectively put operations to free Paul, of Blackburn, and three fellow Westerners on hold during the Indian elections earlier this year.
And polls in the volatile Indian province are almost always marred by militant action.
Paul was kidnapped by a Kashmiri separatist group calling themselves Al Faran in July last year. There has been no proof that he and his fellow captives, Middlesbrough man Keith Mangan, American Donald Hutchings and German Dirk Hasert, are still alive since August last year.
However, forestry workers reported seeing two Westerners being escorted by armed miltiamen just over a month ago.
Paul, 25, of Bracken Close, Feniscowles, Blackburn, travelled to Kashmir with his girlfriend.
The elections are timed to take place throughout September.
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