SRINAGAR: Protesters clashed with government troops in several parts of Indian-administered Kashmir for the second straight day Saturday, defying a curfew imposed to restrain public anger over the killing of four villagers in the disputed region.
Police officials, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said that the protesters threw rocks, and that police and paramilitary forces used batons and tear gas and fired warning shots of live ammunition to control the crowds. Five protesters and two police officers were injured in the clashes.
At least 50 people were injured in similar clashes Friday.
The unrest follows the fatal shootings by government troops Thursday of four villagers who were protesting the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by border guards in a remote village in the region.
The protesters accuse the Indian Border Security Force of tearing pages of several copies of the Holy Quran and beating a caretaker at a religious seminary (madrassa) during a search for alleged militants Wednesday night.
The paramilitary force denied the charges.