Srinagar, Kashmir - India-administered Kashmir was brought under federal rule days after the state's chief minister resigned following a controversy over the transfer of land to a Hindu pilgrimage, officials said Friday.

"In exercise of powers under the constitution of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, governor NN Vohra issued a proclamation late Thursday night to dissolve the assembly," said an official spokesman.

"The governor will directly administer the state and assume all functions of the state government," he said.

State chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned on Monday after the People's Democratic Party, a key coalition partner, withdrew support to his Congress party government.

The decision came after angry protests by Muslims in the Kashmir valley over the transfer of land that was eventually cancelled by the government.

Vohra accepted Azad's resignation but asked his cabinet to stay till alternative arrangements were made.

Kashmiri Muslims had alleged that the decision to transfer 99 acres of government land to the Amarnath shrine board was aimed at settling Hindus in the Muslim-majority state.

Later, when the government decided to revoke the order, Kashmiri Hindus based in the south Jammu district organized large-scale protests against the government's decision.

In all, five people died and over 500 were wounded in the unrest which went on for more than a fortnight and spread to other parts of India.

Political analysts said that the imposition of governor's rule would not mean much of a difference as state legislature elections could be held shortly. The polls were due in October but were likely to be brought forward.

Kashmiri separatist militants have already called for a boycott of the elections which they term a farce.

More than 40,000 people - civilians, militants and security forces personnel - have been killed in violence and bloodshed in the picturesque Himalayan region since a separatist militant movement peaked in the late 1980s. (dpa)