Kashmir violence rages

SRINAGAR, India, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Hindus and Muslims in Indian-administered Kashmir region clashed Wednesday, raising the death toll from the violence over a temple land dispute.

Police in Kishtwar, in the Jammu region, were ordered to shoot at sight following the communal violence, the Press Trust of India reported.

In Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir north of Jammu, violence erupted with protesters throwing stones at security personnel, the report said.

It said the death toll in two days of violent protests against what Muslims in the Kashmir valley allege an "economic blockade" of their region by Hindus rose to 21.

Authorities, however, relaxed curfew Wednesday in the Srinagar area to allow people to buy essential commodities, the report said.

Tensions began in May when the Kashmir state government decided to give about 100 acres of land to a board that administers Amarnath, a sacred Hindu shrine in the Himalayas. But the decision was rescinded following Muslim protests.

Upset Hindus in the Jammu region then began their protests.

The Muslims allege the blocking of a major highway linking Kashmir with the rest of India has prevented supplies from coming in and their fruit harvest from getting out, the report said. The fruit growers have vowed to take their produce across to the Pakistani-held side of Kashmir.