Jammu:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met senior Home Ministry, Intelligence and Army officials on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Kashmir.
Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister AK Antony were also present at the crucial meet in New Delhi.
Kashmir remained tense on Wednesday, a day after three teenagers were killed in police firing in Anantnag.
(Read: 3 killed in Anantnag firing)A curfew-like situation persists in Srinagar and thousands of CRPF jawans and state police personnel have been deployed to maintain calm.
Curfew is still in place in most areas including Anantnag and Baramulla in the wake of overnight clashes. There were protests through the night in south Kashmir. In Anantnag town, two police posts, a government building and over a dozen vehicles were set on fire.
The annual Amarnath yatra was flagged off from Jammu on Wednesday amid tension and disturbance in the Valley. Pilgrims say the deteriorating security situation will not deter them.
As many as 3000 BSF jawans have been airlifted to the state to provide additional security along the route of the yatra.
(Read: Amarnath yatra begins under tight security)Reacting to the tension in J&K, the BJP said a similar situation of widespread violence is created in the Valley ahead of the Amarnath Yatra every year. The party appealed to the UPA government and the Prime Minister to provide security guarantees for the devotees undertaking the Amarnath Yatra.
The number of civilians killed in police and CRPF firing in the last two weeks has risen to 11.
(Read & Watch: J&K protesters exploiting teenagers, says G K Pillai)Among the civilian casualties on Tuesday were three teenagers. Ishtiyaq, a class tenth student, 17-year-old Imtiyaz who was working at a baker's shop in Anantnag and Sajjad were killed in firing in Anantnag during protests over the recent civilian deaths in the Valley.
Security forces claim firing began after they came under heavy stone throwing by protesters at a demonstration. It was not clear whether it was the police or the CRPF that fired at the protesters.
It was the second incident of firing in Anantnag on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the CRPF opened fire on a protest demonstration, injuring 15-year-old Ashiq Ahmad. He received bullet injuries in his leg. "I had gone to get roti from a baker when they fired at me,'' said Ashiq.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday made an emotional appeal for peace vowing to ensure return of normalcy soon and slammed anti-national and vested interests for instigating violence.
(Read: Anti-nationals behind Kashmir unrest, says Omar)(With PTI inputs)
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