Reviving their strike call, separatists leaders on Thursday asked people to observe a complete shutdown in the Kashmir valley for three days in the wake of the Amarnath land row.

"There will be complete strike in Kashmir for the next three days. Peaceful protests in the day and between evening and night prayers shall continue," Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said after a massive rally at Eidgah in Srinagar.

Tens of thousands of people had assembled at the Eidgah ground in downtown Srinagar to participate in the rally organised by the separatists' Coordination Committee spearheading the agitation in the Valley.

After weeks of violence, Kashmir was by and large peaceful in the last three days when the committee had suspended the stir.

The Mirwaiz, who is member of the Committee, said the separatist leadership will stage a silent sit-in at Lal Chowk in the heart of the city on Monday.

"People have given their verdict by turning out in hundreds of thousands over the past weeks. They want freedom," the Miraiz said.

Key issue

The Hurriyat Chairman said India must accept the ground realities and start a process for resolution of Kashmir issue with the involvement of Pakistan and representatives of the people of the state.

Meanwhile, night curfew continued in Jammu and Udhampur districts, reeling under a stir by the Sri Amaranath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti to press for return of land to the shrine board.

Curfew was relaxed for varying periods in Sambha and Kishtwar towns of Jammu region.

"India should realise that Kashmir issue has to be resolved involving New Delhi, Islamabad and representatives of Jammu and Kashmir," the Mirwaiz said and repeated the demand to open Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for trade.

"India should move towards demilitarisation of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

The public address system at the rally failed soon after the Hurriyat Chairman rose to address the gathering.

The wires of the system snapped as the enthusiastic crowd waved green flags of the separatist coordination committee with 'Allah-o-Akbar' written on them.

Many placards also called for the separatist leaders to end factionalism.

Before offering Friday prayers, the separatist leaders visited the grave of Shiekh Abdul Aziz who was killed in police firing on August 11 at Boniyar while leading a march towards Muzaffarabad.

Although Eid prayers have been offered at Eidgah before, this was for the first time that the ground was used for Friday prayers.

The Samiti has also called for a complete bandh in Jammu on August 25.