Kashmir at standstill on eve of Eid

New Delhi: The Indian-administered area of the Kashmir valley wore a deserted look on Monday, as normal life remained paralysed due to a shutdown protest, and amid a fresh deployment of security forces.

Separatists had called for multiple rallies on Tuesday.

State authorities had imposed restrictions on the movement and assembly of people in some areas of Kashmir on the eve of Eid Al Adha.

According to police, restrictions had been imposed in the towns of Ganderbal, Kupwara, Baramulla, Budgam, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Anantnag.

Authorities were expected to impose curfew and restrictions in some other parts of Kashmir on Tuesday to foil the separatists’ plan to march to the local office of the United Nations (UN) Military Observers Group, to seek implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir.

Separatist group Hurriyat Conference has urged people to observe Eid with austerity.

“The Hurriyat Conference has taken a strong note of some youths compelling shopkeepers to shut down during the relaxation time. Hurriyat has clarified once again that this period is part of the programme and is meant to get the essential commodities. Whosoever violates the joint programme is not a well wisher. Eid should be celebrated with austerity,” Hurriyat said.

Meanwhile, the separatists have extended the shutdown programme to September 16.

While a fair number of private vehicles were plying on city centre Lal Chowk and adjoining areas, shops and business establishments remained closed during day time on Monday. Most petrol pumps remained closed during the day.

Schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the Valley were also closed. However, sale of sacrificial animals was going on at many places in the city.

A cleric at a mosque in Kastwar district announced plans to hold rallies on the day of Eid against “Indian brutality to express solidarity with families of martyrs.”

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said the Indian army operation is not against Hurriyat leaders but to disperse protesting young Kashmiris.

“The operations undertaken by the Indian security forces are in no way meant to target the separatist outfits of Kashmir. It is merely to keep a check on the stone pelting youngsters” Mufti told media.

“We do not want more clashes between the youngsters and the armed forces.”

Meanwhile, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said five of its personnel had been injured in stone pelting incidents since Sunday.

“Five Central Reserve Police Force personnel were injured and two of their vehicles damaged in 18 incidents of stone pelting involving the Force in the Kashmir valley in past 24 hours,” CRPF tweeted.

Militant outfit Tehreek ul Mujahideen took the responsibility of recent attacks on CRPF and said that “they killed several Indian army personnels and burnt dozens of their vehicles during attacks.”

As many as 79 persons have been killed and thousands others injured in clashes with security forces since July eight when Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir.