Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 17: At least 12 people including 3 policemen were injured in clashes that broke out at Nowhatta in old city area of Srinagar soon after the Friday prayers on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida, marking the culmination of the Holy month of Ramadhan.
Lakhs of people today offered congregational prayers across Kashmir in Masjids with biggest gathering of over 1.5 lakh offering prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the Holy month of Ramadhan.
Soon after the Friday prayers, thousands of people marched on the streets in Nowhatta area, outside Jamia Masjid. Some of these protesters, mostly youth, turned violent and pelted stones on police and para-military CRPF deployment in the area and tried to attack the police station Nowhatta.
Police charged batons on the stone pelting protesters and fired tear smoke to disperse them. Nine protesters and 3 policemen were injured in the clashes that continued for several hours.
Meanwhile, markets across Kashmir valley wore festive look today with large number of people coming out for shopping for Eid-ul-Fitr, which will be celebrated either Sunday or Monday depending of the citing of Shawal month moon of Islamic calendar.
Bakeries, confectionaries, toy shops and outlets dealing with clothing and footwear witnessed heavy rush of customers. Roadside vendors have set up stalls in Lal Chowk and adjoining areas selling all kinds of merchandise resulting in congestion and traffic jams in the Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Maharaja Bazar and Residency road areas.
Keeping in view of heavy rush of people, the traffic police barred entry of heavy passenger vehicles into Lal Chowk area. A traffic police official said that no vehicular traffic will be allowed to ply on Residency Road from Radio Kashmir to Hari Singh High Street and along M A Road from SRTC Crossing to Jehangir Chowk. However, the restrictions will be lifted on Eid.
Large queues were witnessed at ATMs of various banks as people withdrew over Rs 6 crore for Eid shopping in last couple of days. On the eve of Eid, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank and other nationalized and private banks remained open for transactions on Friday despite being a bank holiday on account of Jumat-ul-Vida.
The bank also announced a full working day on Saturday of all the business units in the State till the last customer is served. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure smooth and uninterrupted operations of its ATM network to meet the cash requirements.
A police spokesman said here this evening that miscreants dampened the fervor of the people in Nowhatta area on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida when they appeared in Nowhatta Chowk pelting stones on police deployments and the vehicles.
Police said that some miscreants started pelting stones on the police deployment at Nowhatta Chowk after the culmination of Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar. “Nowhatta and its adjacent area wore a festive look on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida, where thousands of Muslims offering the Friday prayers in the historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar. People from all walks of life especially women and children were seen shopping for the coming Eid”, the spokesman added.
Police said that no sooner the Friday congressional prayers were over, some miscreants playing spoil sport pelted stones on police deployments and vehicles. “The people were running helter and shelter for finding cover from the stones. The festive scene was soon disturbed in the area”, the police spokesman added.
The spokesman said that police exercised maximum restraint chased away the peltors. “A policeman was injured in the stone pelting which was sporadically going on till the reports last came in”, he added.
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