With Tuesday’s violence the toll has risen to 89. Most of the victims were teenagers and youths killed in action by the Indian security forces.

Fearing large-scale violence, authorities extended the strict round-the-clock curfew restrictions to the entire Kashmir valley and deployed thousands of police and Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to enforce it.

A senior police officer said security forces had to open fire to restore order in Baramulla town as hundreds of protesters defied curfew and pelted police with stones.

He said three protesters were wounded in the firing.

CRPF troopers opened fire to quell protesters at Bemina in Srinagar yesterday who hurled rocks and stones at the CRPF critically wounding two youths who were taken to hospital for treatment.

Two women were wounded in firing by security forces in Bejibehara town where mobs defied curfew restrictions and staged protests. The protesters later pelted the security forces with stones.

On Monday, Kashmir valley witnessed daylong clashes that left 18 people dead and 80 wounded. The violence was triggered by reports of desecration of the Holy Qur’an in the US.

In view of the worsening situation in Kashmir, all flights to and from Srinagar have been suspended for three days, according to officials here.

Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway also remained disrupted.

Meanwhile, separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a series of shutdowns till Sept. 25 that will exclude Sept. 19 and 22.

The octogenarian leader, who is heading the current agitation, has asked people to do business during nocturnal hours and protest during the day.

State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a series of meetings yesterday morning with ministers of the coalition government and senior leaders of his National Conference party to discuss the ongoing situation in the valley.