Thousands poured onto the streets of Indian occupied Kashmir's main city on Friday calling for independence in some of the largest pro-freedom protests in the Muslim region in almost two decades.
The demonstrations, which marked the fifth straight day of protests in the disputed Himalayan province, began as opposition to the transfer of land to a Hindu pilgrim body before growing into larger anti-India rallies. Three Kashmiris have died this week and nearly 200 have been injured, with the demonstrations taking the same form as widespread protests that swept the region after a separatist insurgency broke out in 1989.
"It is one of the biggest pro-freedom marches I have witnessed," said Joginder Singh, a resident of the Lal Chowk commercial area, one of several spots in occupied Srinagar where thousands were gathered.
Chanting "We want freedom" and "Stop the sale of Kashmir," the marchers passed through stone and brick-littered streets and tore down banners and billboards of pro-India parties as federal troops watched from a distance, an AFP reporter and witnesses said.
"We have deployed police and paramilitary in strength to maintain law and order situation," occupied Srinagar police chief Syed Mujtaba told reporters. Authorities have also placed many of Kashmir's top separatist leaders under house arrest since Tuesday to stop them from leading the protests and drawing bigger crowds.
Large numbers of armed security personnel patrolled sensitive areas of the city on Friday, the day Muslims offer congregational prayers. With tensions high, Kashmir Valley police chief S M Sahai said police had been urged to show restraint.
Banks, post offices, schools and offices were closed in occupied Srinagar and little traffic ventured on to the roads. The unrest was sparked by a state government decision last week to transfer some land to a Hindu trust for the construction of accommodation for tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims making an annual pilgrimage to a mountain grotto.
Tensions remain despite a promise by the state's chief minister that no construction activity would be permitted until further notice. Police chief Sahai said police were trying to talk to civic leaders in occupied Srinagar "so that normal situation could be restored as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee to review the state of a slow-moving peace process launched by the two countries three years ago.
A hard-line Kashmiri leader who wants to see Indian Kashmir merge with Pakistan - many other Kashmiris hope for complete independence from both Indian and Pakistan - criticised the Pakistani official for visiting India. "It is very, very unfortunate that the Pakistani foreign minister is enjoying Indian hospitality at a time when Kashmiri protesters are being crushed," Syed Ali Geelani said.