Indian Kashmir locked down

Thousands of Indian troops enforced a strict curfew in parts of Kashmir on Wednesday in a bid to stem three weeks of deadly protests that have claimed 11 lives and led to soaring tensions.

Six people have been killed in the last four days alone during demonstrations against the alleged killing of Kashmiris by Indian security forces which began with the accidental death of a schoolboy earlier this month.

Each killing has sparked a new cycle of violence and state chief minister Omar Abdullah appealed Tuesday for calm and for people to stay in their homes, adding that widespread curfews would allow tempers to cool.

Northern Sopore town was locked down for the fifth day running and neighbourhoods are also under curfew in the Kashmiri summer capital Srinagar and other towns in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley.

It is alleged that firing by security forces on Tuesday claimed the lives of three teenagers in southern Anantnag district, about 55 kilometres south of Srinagar, which is also under curfew.

Indian Kashmir has been wracked by street protests since June 11, when a 17-year-old student died after accidentaly being hit by a tear-gas shell fired by police during a demonstration in Srinagar.

Also Wednesday, extra forces were deployed to protect the start of an annual Hindu pilgrimage to the icy Amarnath shrine in the foothills of Himalayas.

In the past, it has been the target of militant groups.

"Adequate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage are in place," Kashmir's tourism minister Rigzin Jora told reporters, as he flagged off first batch of 1,274 pilgrims from Kashmiri winter capital, Jammu.

The pilgrims, including 400 ash-smeared saints, left Jammu in caravan of busus, cars and trucks protected by machine-gun wielding paramilitary forces.

Even where curfews were not in place Wednesday, life came to standstill because of a general strike called for the second day running by separatists.

Shops, schools and offices were closed.

India and Pakistan each hold Kashmir in part but claim it in full.

They have fought two of their three wars over it.