SRINAGAR: Government forces in India-held Kashmir fatally shot five civilians and injured at least 15 others on Tuesday as clashes with antiIndia protesters intensified in the disputed region, police said.

Four people were killed when troops fired live ammunition, shotgun pellets and tear gas to control hundreds of people throwing stones and chanting slogans in Aripanthan village, west of Srinagar, a police official said on condition of anonymity.

Three of the injured were in critical condition, police said.

News of the killings brought thousands of other Kashmiris from neighbouring villages into the streets chanting `Go India, go back` and `We want freedom`.

Large crowds continued to raise anti-India slogans at a funeral for the four dead civilians on Tuesday afternoon.

More protests erupted across the region as thousands of people took to the streets in defiance of curfew orders.

A fifth civilian was killed as government forces fired on stonethrowing protesters in the southern Anantnag area. Residents ofKurhama village in eastern Kashmir said soldiers in trucks came into the village and entered dozens of homes, beating men and women. They said the soldiers also ransacked houses and brokeintoshuttered shops.

A local police officer said the action occurred after a group of youths pelted an army convoy with stones. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said at least 15 villagers were hospitalised with various injuries.

The disputed Himalayan region has been extremely tense since government troops killed a popular militant leader nearly six weeks ago.

Tuesday`s deaths raised the death toll from the largest protests in years to 64, including two policemen. Thousands more have been injured.

Shops, businesses and schools have remained closed because of the security lockdown and protest strikes called by local leaders who challenge India`s sovereignty over Kashmir. Residents have struggled to cope with shortages of food,medicine and othernecessities. Hospitals have been overwhelmed by the many injured.

More than 68,000 people have been killed in the disputed region since militant groups began fighting Indian forces in 1989 and in the subsequent Indian military cracl