Millions of of Muslims have taken to the streets of Indian Kashmir's main city to demand that the United Nations recognise their right to self-determination.
Security was tight on Monday as a mass of people marched towards a local UN office, in defiance of official warnings against holding the rally in Srinagar, still tense after deadly clashes last week.
The UN office in Srinagar houses personnel who monitor ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, or the de facto border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
"I have never seen such a big rally in Srinagar," said Abdul Aziz, a 75-year-old shopkeeper who was taking part in the procession.
'Freedom demand'
"I couldn't resist coming out to demand freedom from India," he said, as he marched towards the UN office carrying a placard that read: "If freedom for Kosovo, why not for Kashmir?"
The marchers included men, women and children, who chanted slogans including "We want freedom", "Jeeve Jeeve Pakistan" and "We will give blood for Kashmir's freedom".
Many also carried green or black flags - symbolising Islam and mourning.
Shabir Shah, a senior Kashmiri separatist leader, said the demonstrators planned to deliver a plea for UN intervention in the wake of last week's shootings of "peaceful protesters".
Another separatist, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said the plea urges the UN "to intervene and help us in achieving the right to self-determination".
There are decades-old UN Security Council resolutions calling for a referendum to allow the Kashmiri people to choose between India and Pakistan, but they have never been implemented.
Last week 22 Muslim demonstrators were killed in police firing in the Kashmir valley as they vented their anger over a blockade of the area by Hindu hardliners.
The tensions between Muslims and Hindus centres around a small piece of land in the valley that was awarded to a Hindu pilgrimage trust, sparking Muslim protests.
Showdown
The land transfer order was then rescinded, sparking a blockade by Hindus who dominate the south of Jammu and Kashmir state - from where the main road access to the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley comes.
India stepped up security in Srinagar and warned of a showdown if the rally was held, officials and witnesses said.
Syed Afad-ul-Mujtaba, a local police chief, warned on Sunday that a "huge mobilisation won't be allowed", but failed to convince separatists to call off the march.
Troops have been patrolling streets, erecting barricades and blocking roads leading to the UN offices.
Leaders of Kashmir's main separatist All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference alliance said they wanted to submit a memorandum to the UN office on Monday.
"Call upon India to end its forcible occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and desist from use of brute force against the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the memorandum, published in local newspapers, stated.
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