Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 9: Around two dozen people including police officers were injured in clashes that broke out after Eid-ul-Fitr in Eidgah area in the old city area Srinagar this morning while lakhs of people offered prayers across Kashmir to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the culmination of Holy fasting month of Ramzan.
Clashes broke out soon after the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers in Eidgah area of old city where around one lakh people offered prayers. Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq was going to address the gathering but he was kept under house at his Nageen residence since last night and was not allowed to offer prayers. However, he addressed the gathering over phone.
Soon after the prayers a large group of people carried out a protest march and pelted stones on the police who were deployed in full strength in the Eidgah area.
Police charged batons and fire tearsmoke to disperse the stone throwing protesters at Eidgah, Safa Kadal and adjoining areas. Eyewitnesses said that around two dozen persons including SP North Tahir Salim and DSP Dawood were injured in the clashes that continued for several hours. However, the situation was brought under control in the afternoon.
The second largest congregation was at Hazratbal where more than 60,000 offered Eid prayers including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Eyewitnesses said that two youth who were in second row near the VIP entrance of Hazratbal for Eid prayers stood up and raised slogans against the Government but they were whisked away by the police men who were deployed in full strength in civvies.
Eid-ul-Fitr prayers as a mark of thanks giving to Allah were offered today in Eidgah’s and Masjids across Kashmir. Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated today after the fasting month of Ramzan came to an end Thursday evening following the sighting of Shawwal moon.
Thousands of people offered prayers at Baramulla, Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Budgam, Pulwama, Kupwara, Leh and Kargail districts of Kashmir province.
Children in fancy dresses made their way to gardens and parks in the city soon after the prayers. Youth burst crackers to celebrated the occasion.
And authorities continued the restrictions over the movement of separatist leaders including chairmen of both factions Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, JKLF Chairman Mohamad Yasin Malik and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah, National Front Chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Javid Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Yousuf Naqash.
However, Geelani addressed gathering of Eidgah Sopore in North Kashmir over phone where thousands of people offered prayers.
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