The Indian army is deploying around 10,000 extra soldiers in Kashmir to quell weeks of protests over land for a Hindu shrine that had sparked some of the state's worst religious riots in two decades.
The troops will be deployed around occupied Jammu where thousands of people have been protesting to demand the transfer of about 100 acres (40 hectares) of land to a Hindu shrine trust. The dispute began after the government had promised to give forest land to the trust that runs Amarnath, a cave shrine visited by Hindu pilgrims. Many Muslims were enraged.
The government then backed down on its decision. Many Hindus, in turn, were angered. "This troop strength is in addition to large contingents of paramilitary forces and police already deployed to contain the unrest", a senior army officer, asking not to be named, told Reuters.
Shops and businesses remained closed in occupied Srinagar for the fourth day on Thursday in protest against attacks and the highway blockade."