200,000 Muslims protest Indian rule in Kashmir

Srinagar: Hundreds of thousands of Muslims gathered in Indian Kashmir's main city on Friday for the largest protest against Indian rule in Kashmir.

An estimated crowd of 200,000 people chanted anti-India slogans as they waited for a prayer session and speeches from separatist leaders.

The massive protest shut down public transport, schools, businesses and shops across the Himalayan region.

Several thousand police officers in riot gear patrolled the streets ahead of the rally but later pulled back from the site.

The crisis began in June with a dispute over land for pilgrims visiting a Hindu shrine.

Muslims launched protests complaining that a government decision to transfer land to a Hindu trust was a plan meant to alter the religious balance in the region.

After the plan was rescinded Hindus took to the streets demanding it be restored.