Thousands of protesters clashed with police in Indian Kashmir’s main city Saturday over allegations that government forces set fire to a local Muslim shrine, officials said.

Fierce fighting raged in India’s portion of Kashmir Friday, killing five army soldiers and a suspected Muslim rebel near the de facto border with Pakistan.

Authorities imposed a curfew in a city in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday to prevent further protests by Hindu nationalists angered that the government revoked a land transfer to a revered Hindu shrine, a senior police officer said.

Eleven suspected Islamic militants and one Indian soldier died in gunbattles in India’s portion of Kashmir this week, an army spokesman said Wednesday.

Seven suspected Islamic militants and one Indian soldier died in gunbattles in India’s portion of Kashmir this week, an army spokesman said Wednesday.

Authorities reversed a controversial plan to transfer land to a Hindu shrine in Muslim majority Indian-held Kashmir on Tuesday as Muslim and Hindu protesters held massive rallies across the region assailing the state government for its handling of the politically sensitive issue.

Indian police fired at Hindu nationalists protesting a government decision to revoke a transfer of land to a revered Hindu shrine in Muslim-majority Indian-held Kashmir, a senior officer said. At least three people were hurt Tuesday.

Police used batons in an attempt to clear protesters from the streets of Indian Kashmir on Monday, the eighth day of rioting against what critics call a government plan to build Hindu settlements in the Muslim-majority region.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators paralyzed cities in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday with protests against what they charge is a government plan to build Hindu settlements to change the religious balance in the Muslim-majority region.