SRINAGAR, July 20: Protesters clashed with troops in several parts of India-held Kashmir for the second straight day on Saturday, defying a curfew imposed to restrain public anger over the killing of four villagers in the disputed region.

Police officials alleged that protesters threw rocks, and that police and paramilitary forces used batons and teargas and fired warning shots of live ammunition to control the crowds.

Five protesters and two police personnel were injured.

The forces fired on Thursday on demonstrators protesting against the desecration of a copy of the Holy Quran by Indian troops during a search operation in a seminary.

Some 37 people were also injured.

Indian authorities subsequently imposed a curfew on the main areas of the Kashmir valley.

But on Friday, a further 59 people, including police and federal paramilitary personnel, were hurt in clashes between government forces and protesters in dozens of places, police said.-Agencies