HELD SRINAGAR: Troops in held Kashmir used metal barricades and barbed wire to seal off residential areas and extended a curfew on Monday across the region, effectively thwarting a planned pro-separatist rally. Tens of thousands of policemen and soldiers in riot gear patrolled deserted streets in the Himalayan region and used loudspeakers to warn residents to stay indoors.

Over the past two months, Kashmir has seen some of the biggest anti-India demonstrations since a revolt against New Delhi’s rule broke out in the region in 1989. About 40 protesters have been shot dead by security forcesand hundreds injured in past two months.

Protesters had planned a huge anti-India rally in Lal Chowk (Red Square), the historic centre of Srinagar, where six decades ago India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised a referendum on self-determination.

“We condemn use of force and appeal to people to continue peaceful protests against Indian occupation,” said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Farooq has been placed under house arrest since Sunday and Yasin Malik, another senior leader who has led a series of anti-India demonstrations in the past two months, was detained by police on Saturday night.

“They beat us, arrest us, kill us, treat us like animals... Inshallah (God willing) one day Kashmir will win freedom from the Indian colonial rule,” said Muzamil Ahmad, a 24-year-old student.

Indian police and paramilitary forces also prevented people from visiting mosques for Monday morning prayers in Srinagar and otherplaces in the region, residents said. Streets were deserted with shops, schools and businesses shut for the day. Police announced over loudspeakers they would shoot anyone found violating the curfew, residents said. People should not violate the curfew, it’s an offense,” warned B Srinivas, inspector-general of state police.