Tension grips Kashmir as five civilians killed in less than 24 hours

Police have launched a massive manhunt for at least two suspected militants

Activists of right wing Hindu group Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, reacting to the militant attack in the southern Rajouri district of Indian-controlled Kashmir shout slogans during a protest in Jammu (AP)

Fresh violence in India’s Jammu and Kashmir has escalated tensions after five people, including a young child, were killed in two separate incidents in less than 24 hours.

A day after suspected militants sprayed bullets towards a row of civilian homes in Jammu’s Rajouri District, killing four people, a bomb blast near the same homes left a child dead and four other people injured on Monday.

The violence on the first two days of the new year has triggered fear and tension in the region as the family members grieved the death and protested against the attacks.