Eid amid curbs in Valley

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, August 11

An eerie calm prevailed in the Valley just a day ahead of Eid on Monday. Though restrictions were eased for a major part of the day on Sunday, the buzz associated with the religious festival was missing. The authorities are unlikely to allow big congregations and may bar people from gathering at the Eidgah to offer prayers, sources said.

At 5 pm today, restrictions were re-imposed in Srinagar with police vehicles fitted with loudspeakers urging the people to return home and shop owners to down shutters. Most residents stayed indoors. Only a handful of grocery shops were open. Their was negligible traffic. Many roads in city continue to be barricaded. Heavy deployment of forces continued in areas where curbs were eased during the day.

“Magistrates have been deployed to act as facilitators for the convenience of the public,” an official spokesperson said. Six ‘mandis’ and markets have been established in Srinagar while 2.5 lakh sheep have been made available for Eid-ul-Azha on Monday. The authorities have also deployed mobile vans for door-to-door delivery of vegetables, LPG cylinders, poultry and eggs, officials said. “Everything is peaceful. There has been a lot of improvement in public and transport movement,” Srinagar DC Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said. There is a strong  possibility that Eid prayers at major religious places will not be allowed for fear of law and order problem. The largest congregation for prayers is at the Eidgah in old city and at the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake. Incidents of protests and stone-pelting have been witnessed in the past after Eid prayers.

Kashmir has been on the edge ever since the Union Government scrapped Article  370 and divided the state into two Union Territories. After the revocation order, clashes and protests occurred in some parts of the Valley.  A day after Article 370 was scrapped, a youth was drowned when allegedly chased by the forces in the city outskirts. The communication blockade continues which has created a crisis-like situation with people failing to reach out to their near and dear ones. The state has set up 300 phone booths but most residents are not aware of these. 

(With PTI inputs)

Samjhauta cancelled

The Indian Railways said on Sunday that it has cancelled the Samjhauta Express train run at its end of the international border, days after Pakistan suspended services on its side. The railways run the train on Sundays from Delhi to Attari and back, while Pakistan used to run it between Lahore and Attari. Passengers used to change trains at Attari station.

CRPF’s ‘madadgaar’

A Srinagar-based CRPF helpline on Sunday notified a new number for people, especially Kashmiris, who require help for their families or are in distress post the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The ‘madadgaar’ helpline posted a message on Twitter, saying people can call on its mobile number 9469793260 “for any assistance or updates”.