Silence broken only by police sirens and armed personnel's instruction to remain indoors
Security in Jammu and Kashmir. Pic/ AFP
There were reports that former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were allowed to offer Eid prayers but no details were available. In many places, people could be seen requesting security personnel to let them through. One of them was Mohammed Asgar, a resident of Indira Nagar in this main city of the Valley. "I want to wish my brother who stays across the road but I am not being allowed to do so," said Asgar, who wanted to meet his ailing brother in Shivpora, a distance of less than a kilometre from Indira Nagar.
A Muslim woman gets emotional as she celebrates Eid with Kashmiri students who could not reach their families in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, in New Delhi, on Monday. Pic/ AFP
Both Indira Nagar and Shivpora are within cantonment limits and this is the first time in 30 years of insurgency that such strict restrictions are in place, residents said.
Stray protests
Rohit Kansal, principal secretary and official spokesperson of J&K governor, said, "The Eid 'namaz' passed off peacefully in mosques across the state. Three stray protests took place but no one was injured." The Union Home Ministry said people came out in good numbers to offer Eid prayers and 'namaz' was offered at prominent mosques in Srinagar and Shopian.
PDP MP Nazir Ahmad Laway, however, said security was not relaxed in Kashmir Ghati and people weren't able to offer Namaz. "The situation is such that I am not able to contact my own family members there. Security has not been relaxed here on the occasion of Eid, Kashmir Ghati is still under high security," Laway told ANI.
BJP hits out at Chidambaram
On Sunday, former home minister P Chidambaram had said if there was a Hindu majority in Kashmir, the BJP wouldn't have touched Article 370. The BJP on Monday termed as "very irresponsible and provocative" Chidambaram's comment. BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Congress was giving the issue a communal angle. "What he has said is an attempt to give communal colour to the issue even though the decision is in national interest," Naqvi said.
Meanwhile, the customary exchange of sweets between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers along the IB did not take place on Monday as Pakistan refused to send its personnel, officials said. The Delhi Transport Corporation on Monday cancelled the Delhi-Lahore bus service.
SC hearing on plea against Article 370 today
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday a plea challenging the Centre's decision to impose restrictions and "other regressive measures" in Jammu & Kashmir following the revocation of the provisions of Article 370. The plea filed by Congress activist Tehseen Poonawalla is listed for hearing before a bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, M R Shah and Ajay Rastogi.
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
