The death toll from a major day of voting in the world's biggest election rose to nine Friday, according to police, who say suspected rebels killed five paramilitary soldiers and four polling officials who were traveling on buses after conducting balloting in two Indian states.

With 814 million eligible voters, India is voting in phases over six weeks, with results expected May 16 . Thursday's violence came as millions of people turned out in 11 states for the second-biggest day of voting in the election.

Nine paramilitary soldiers, three policemen and a polling officer were injured in an attack by protesters in the Anantnag constituency, police said.

More than 28 percent of the 1.3 million eligible voters cast their ballots in the troubled region, said Umang Narula, an Election Commission official.

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