Five Kashmir militants, including a rebel university teacher, have been shot dead by Indian soldiers - triggering protests in which five civilians were killed.

Thousands took to the streets in south Kashmir to show support for the dead militants.

Government forces opened fire to break up the protests, according to Shesh Paul Vaid, the director general of police.

Doctors at the scene claimed hundreds of people have been injured.

Government forces swooped on the village of Badigam, in Shopian district, after receiving a tip-off that armed militants were holed up in a house.


The fierce gun battle broke out after rebels refused an offer to surrender.

:: India bans social media in Kashmir as unrest escalates

Image: Hundreds of people needed hospital treatment

An appeal was made to Mohammad Rafi Bhat, a university sociology teacher who only went underground with the rebels on Friday.

Kashmir University, where he taught, has been ordered to close for two days as more protests are expected.

Mr Vaid said: "We brought his father from his home to persuade him to surrender, but he, like all of them, refused."

A top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, a key rebel group, was also among the dead.

Image: Government forces opened fire to break up protests

As news of the trapped militants spread, residents took to the streets across southern Kashmir to demand an end to Indian rule, witnesses and a police officer said.

Another police officer said at least 30 people were injured in clashes with government forces who fired live ammunition, pellet guns and tear gas.

Image: Government forces fired live ammunition rounds

A doctor at a hospital in Shopian said hundreds of injured needed treatment.

He said: "We have reached our full capacity. We have run out of essential medicines, there are no more ambulances."

Three rebels and a civilian had died during a firefight in Srinagar on Saturday - the latest in a string of gun battles in recent weeks across the territory disputed by India and Pakistan since they split in 1947.

Image: Residents took to the streets across southern Kashmir

A curfew was ordered for the capital on Sunday and mobile internet services were closed down in much of the Indian-controlled region.

Officials say fighting in Kashmir has left 120 dead so far this year, including 22 civilians, 67 militants and 28 security forces.

Image: A fierce gun battle started when rebels refused to surrender

More than 500,000 soldiers have been deployed by India to tackle rising militancy as civilian support for the rebels grows.

India accuses Pakistan of fuelling the insurgency. This is denied by Islamabad, which says it only provides diplomatic support to Kashmiris' right to self-determination.