A strict curfew in Indian-administered Kashmir in effect for a fifth day was eased Friday to allow residents to pray at mosques, officials said, but some
protests still broke out in the disputed region despite thousands of security forces in the streets as tensions remained high with neighboring Pakistan.
The predominantly Muslim area has been under the unprecedented lockdown and near-total communications blackout to prevent unrest and protests after India's Hindu nationalist-led government said Monday it was revoking Kashmir's special constitutional status and downgrading its statehood.
Kashmir is claimed in its entirety by both
India and
Pakistan and is divided between the archrivals.