ISLAMABAD – At least 500 incidents of protest have broken out inIndian-occupied Kashmir since New Delhi stripped the region of its autonomyand imposed a military clampdown more than three weeks ago, a seniorgovernment source told *AFP* on Wednesday.

The Himalayan valley is under a strict lockdown, imposed hours beforeIndia’s decision to bring Kashmir under its direct rule. Movement isrestricted and phone and internet services have been cut.

The lockdown, as well as the deployment of tens of thousands of extratroops to reinforce the 500,000 based in occupied Kashmir, was ordered amidfears of unrest in a region where an armed rebellion against Indian rulehas been waged since 1989.

But protests have broken out, including in the main city of Srinagar, withpolice using pellet guns and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

A senior government source told *AFP* at least 500 protests and incidentsof stone-throwing have occurred since August 5, with more than half takingplace in Srinagar.

Nearly 100 civilians have been injured so far, with a further 300 policeand more than 100 paramilitary troopers hurt, the official added.

“The number of protests could be much higher and bigger without theblockade in force,” the official told *AFP*, adding that “anger and publicdefiance is constantly rising”.

“Efforts for easing the conditions are made all the time but nothing seemsto be working for now. There is nervousness spreading in the securityestablishment.”

He added that the communications blackout meant even security forces werestruggling to obtain information about rural areas.

Meanwhile, residents are refusing to resume their normal lives in an act ofdefiance, an *AFP* reporter in Srinagar said.

While authorities have re-opened schools, students have stayed away. Toldto keep open all day or “don’t open at all”, some shops have remained shut.

At least 4,000 people have been detained across the valley, security andgovernment sources told *AFP* last week, including businessmen, academics,activists and local politicians, with a few released since then.

A separate senior government official told *AFP* on Wednesday that at least1,350 protesters — described by police as “stone-pelters” — have beenarrested since August 5.

The detentions came as the Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the governmentone week to respond to a legal challenge calling for the communicationsblackout to be ended to allow for media reporting.

The court also said several petitions challenging the removal of theconstitutional clause on occupied Kashmir’s autonomy would be heard inOctober. -APP/AFP