Hundreds of protesters stoned government buildings and fought street battles with police on Saturday, alleging that soldiers beat up villagers during a raid to find militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials and villagers said. Protesters poured into the streets of Kangan, a small town about 40 kilometres northeast of Srinagar, hurling bricks and stones at government buildings and burning tires. The protest came hours after soldiers raided nearby Choon village, allegedly abusing civilians in their search for militants fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with Pakistan. "They (soldiers) beat up people and tortured them. Twelve people were injured and two are in serious condition," Muhammad Arshad, a local resident, told AP by telephone. Arshad said villagers carried the injured to Kangan, shouting anti-India slogans and throwing stones at police, who used bamboo truncheons to beat them back. The villagers demanded punishment for the soldiers. A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a few protesters were injured in the clash, but declined to comment on the villagers' allegations.