New Delhi  - A delegation of all major Indian political parties on Saturday failed to reach an understanding with agitators spearheading protests over land for a Hindu shrine in Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir state, leading to fears of further violence.

More than 18 people have died and scores been injured in protests for and against a proposal to give state-owned forest land to a body that runs the annual pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine of Amarnath in the high Himalayas.

Muslims protested against an initial order granting the land, leading to its reversal. Protests by activists in the southern Jammu region who are demanding the government reinstate its order giving the land, followed. The land was to be used to build restrooms and toilets for the pilgrims.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for a meeting of all major political parties on Wednesday at which it was decided that a group of leaders would hold talks with the leaders of the agitation in Jammu in an attempt to resolve the situation.

The protesters announced after the meeting that they would continue their agitation, while the government said it would work on a solution acceptable to all sides, IANS news agency reported from Jammu town, winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Leela Karan Sharma, convenor of the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, a conglomerate of over 30 groups leading the agitation, said: "We have told Home Minister (Shivraj Patil) and other delegation members that our agitation will continue unless the central government comes out with a concrete proposal aimed at restoration of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board."

Patil said: "We have heard different viewpoints including those of the Sangharsh Samiti and those would be discussed at the centre before arriving at a conclusion as to how to resolve the issue."

Meanwhile, a curfew remained in place in Jammu and several other parts of the state. (dpa)