August 23, 2008	Saturday	Sha'aban 20, 1429

SRINAGAR, Aug 22: Hundreds of thousands of people massed in occupied Kashmir’s main city on Friday to demand freedom and protest against New Delhi’s rule in the second major demonstration this week.

“The rally is to show to the world that we are against India’s occupation of Kashmir,” said Kashmiri leader Shabir Shah, who has spent more than 20 years in Indian jails.

Protesters began marching from early morning towards the site of the rally, the “Martyrs’ Cemetery” where many of those killed in the nearly two-decade-old revolt against New Delhi’s rule are buried.

The demonstrators, carrying black and green flags shouted “azadi”. Many banners had “Allahu akbar” written in white letters.

The huge turnout showed that Kashmiris “want to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination” through a referendum, moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.

Speaking to a sea of people, Farooq called upon New Delhi to free all “political detainees” and repeal “draconian” laws that give sweeping powers to Indian troops battling the insurgency in Kashmir. It was the second show of strength by Kashmiris this week. Police estimated the crowd at more than 200,000 while the organisers said it was at least double that number.

The Kashmiris called for a complete shutdown of shops, schools and businesses for three more days starting Saturday and the staging of a silent protest in Lal Chowk, the city centre, on Monday.

On Monday, hundreds of thousands of Muslims took to the streets of Srinagar to demand that the United Nations recognise the Himalayan region’s right to self-determination.

Security was tight for Friday’s rally in Srinagar.

One young protester died when he touched a high-tension electric wire as he was travelling atop a bus to the rally.

“Security forces have been deployed in strength across Srinagar to maintain law and order,” said police officer Pervez Ahmed.

People from other towns and villages arrived in cars, jeeps, buses and trucks with those on board chanting, “We want freedom.”

Last week 22 demonstrators were shot dead by security forces in the valley during protests against the blocking of the Himalayan region’s main highway by Hindu hardliners.

The trouble was triggered by a state government plan announced in June to donate land to a Hindu shrine trust in the Muslim-majority valley.—AFP