Government troops have fired into crowds of protesters as tens of thousands of people across Indian-controlled Kashmir demonstrated their rejection of India’s rule over the predominantly Muslim region, police said.
Seven protesters were killed and more than 60 wounded.
The top elected official in Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Monday to discuss defusing the crisis that has caused 40 deaths over seven weeks.
On Monday, at least two people were killed and another three wounded when government forces fired to disperse protesters blocking a highway in Sangam, a village south of Srinagar, said a police officer on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to reporters.