SRINAGAR: Government forces have fired tear gas and used batons to quell thousands of anti-India protesters who turned violent after Eid prayers in various mosques in India-held Kashmir.

Police say the protesters, waving Pakistani flags, hurled stones at government forces who tried to stop them from marching in Srinagar and at least two other places in the region on Friday.

Authorities tightened security and blocked all mobile and landline Internet services for two days as a measure to stop Muslim protesters from uploading pictures of animal sacrifices, especially slaughter of cows which are worshipped by Hindus.

Tension has been building in the region after a court upheld a law banning slaughtering cows and selling beef in the region, a decision resented by Muslims.

Read: Indian forces fire at protesters, wound two near Srinagar