Srinagar, Jan 24: In the leadership of senior separatist Hurriyat leader Zaffar Akbar Bhat, separatists staged a peaceful protest in Kashmir to demand the release of their house-arrested leaders on Saturday.

Authorities in the state had detained some separatist leaders who wereallegedly inciting people to boycott the seven-phased assembly elections in the disputed Himalayan region that took place between November 17-December 24 but the voters defied the boycott call and turned out in large numbers.

Protestors alleged that many of their leaders who were participating in the peaceful demonstrations are still behind the bars.

Senior Hurriyat leader and the chairman of Salvation movement, Zaffar Akbar Bhat emphasized on the solution of Kashmir problem and said, "I don''t know whether we are living in a democratic country or not, because many of our people are still house- arrested or they are behind the bars."

The protest was organised under the aegis of the Kashmir Salvation Movement.

Overall violence has fallen significantly across Kashmir since India andPakistan began peace talks in 2004.

Although New Delhi has now imposed a ''pause'' in that dialogue, since the Mumbai attack in November last year, which killed 179 people. (ANI)