At least 22 people have been injured in Indian-administered Kashmir after police forces fired live rounds at thousands of stone-throwing protesters following the death of a nine-year-old boy, Press TV reported.
As the news of the young boy's death spread in the area, thousands of people, including those living in neighboring towns and villages, held angry street protests on Monday.
Police used tear gas and gunshots in the southern town of Anantnag to disperse thousands of protesters shouting anti-India slogans and throwing stones at the security forces.
Fierce clashes also erupted between government forces and the protesters in the neighboring town of Pulwama, AP quoted a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Police claim the protesters have defied curfew orders by holding rallies in several towns of the disputed region.
Kashmir Valley has been the scene of violence since police killed a teenage student back in June.
Since then, at least 64 people have been killed as security forces regularly open fire on protesters.