In Kashmir, violence claimed 12 lives and left 70 injured today with mobs torching several government properties and a private school. The protests erupted following rumours of alleged desecration of the Quran in the United States. There were clashes and firing at Tangmarg, Ajas, Pampore and Humhama Budgam. Police sources said five persons were killed in Tangmarg, one each at Ajas and Pampore and five in Budgam. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir government banned an international news channel, Press TV, after it aired a report about alleged desecration of the holy book. State Chief Secretary S. S. Kapoor told the media in Srinagar that there is a game plan behind airing of this particular news item. Appealing to the good sense of people of Kashmir, he asked them not to take law into their own hands. In a related development, the United States has expressed dismay over the violence following reports of a misguided individual desecrating the Quran. Briefing the media in New Delhi, the U.S. Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer said that deliberate destruction of any holy book is an abhorrent act. Strongly supporting appeal by local authorities for calm and peace, Mr. Roemer said that extremists in all countries seek to sow hatred rather than peaceful co-existence.