Kashmir city curfew over land row

The land transfer plans caused anger among both Muslims and Hindus

A curfew has been imposed in the city of Jammu in Indian-administered Kashmir after the death of a protester that police have said was suicide.

Kuldeep Kumar collapsed and died after a speech on Wednesday against the state government's decision to rescind the transfer of land to a Hindu shrine.

The police have not clarified their statement Mr Kumar killed himself.

Angry protests by Muslims and Hindus over the transfer of land has left five dead and hundreds wounded this month.

The state was also put under direct federal rule after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned when a key coalition partner pulled out.

Shrine board

Senior Jammu official Sudhanshu Pandey said that a day-long curfew had been imposed in Jammu "after mounting tension" following the death of Kuldeep Kumar.

Mr Kumar, 25, collapsed after delivering a speech during a protest strike. He was taken to the hospital, where he died.

The Kashmir valley has witnessed violent protests in recent weeks following the government's decision to grant 40 hectares of forest land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Muslims argued the move was aimed at altering the demographic balance in the area.

The state government said the Amarnath Shrine Board needed the land to erect huts and toilets for visiting pilgrims.

But after days of protest, it rescinded its decision, leading to unrest in the state's Hindu-majority region of Jammu.

Demonstrations also spread to other parts of India, with hard-line Hindu groups accusing the Kashmir government of giving in to the demands of separatists.