By Altaf Hussain

BBC News, Srinagar



Tensions are running high in the Muslim majority Kashmir valley

Three people, including a senior policeman, have been killed in violence in Indian-administered Kashmir, police officials say.

Two died when militants fired at a police patrol in Sopore town north of the summer capital, Srinagar.

A civilian was killed in Srinagar on Friday after he was allegedly shot by Indian paramilitaries.

The incident happened as the Muslim-dominated Kashmir valley remained shut for the fourth consecutive day.

The shutdown followed violent protests in Srinagar over the killing of a 15-year-old boy on Sunday.

Wamiq Farooq was hit in the head by a tear gas shell as police dispersed a protest in the city against Indian rule.

The officer who fired the fatal shell that killed the boy has been suspended.

Witnesses said Wamiq had gone out to play cricket and was not among the protesters who clashed with police on Sunday.

Prayers suspended

Main towns in the Kashmir valley are observing a shutdown for the fourth successive day in protest over the killing.

A number of separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq - considered to be a moderate - who normally address the congregation on Fridays - were placed under house-arrest.

Another prominent separatist leader, Shabir Ahmed Shah, has also been arrested.

The main pro-India opposition People's Democratic Party(PDP) says that unrest among Kashmiri youth is because of the stalled peace process between India and Pakistan.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Muslim-majority Kashmir, over which India and Pakistan both claim sovereignty and have fought two wars

In the latest violence in Sopore, a policeman and a civilian were injured in addition to those who died.