The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Srinagar

Authorities in Indian Kashmir on Thursday widened a curfew in the region to prevent protests by Hindus angered by the revocation of a land transfer order to a Hindu pilgrims' trust, officials said.

Jammu, the region's second biggest city, was hit by violent protests by Hindu nationalists demanding the state government stick by a decision to give land in the Muslim-majority area to pilgrims despite a week of deadly rioting.

Protests in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley have left five dead and hundreds injured.

Hindu-majority Jammu was put under an indefinite curfew on Wednesday after angry protesters attacked police and government property.

"We had to take the step to prevent loss of precious lives," said divisional commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey, adding the curfew had been widened to outlying areas.

Authorities are also facing the danger of communal violence in the Jammu-Kashmir region, after a grenade was hurled at a Hindu demonstration, wounding 20, and four houses of Muslim nomads were set on fire by Hindu mobs.

But in the summer capital Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, life was returning to normal after nine days of rioting.

Protests erupted last month when authorities transferred some land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board so it could assist large numbers of Hindus who make an annual trek to a Himalayan grotto.

Muslim separatists said the move was aimed at setting up Hindu settlements in Kashmir.