Protests turn violent in Srinagar after Eid prayers

SRINAGAR - Massive protests erupted in Srinagar after the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers Saturday as separatists led a procession to the city centre while mobs torched a police barrack and the state electricity department office.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, led a huge procession to Lal Chowk, the city centre, after offering Eid prayers at the Eidgah grounds in the Old City area of Srinagar.

As per the original programme, devotees were to offer prayers at the Eidgah grounds and then disperse peacefully to celebrate the festival.

Calling upon thousands of people to celebrate an austere Eid, the Mirwaiz said: “Freedom is our birth right and the young generation of Kashmiris has decided they will attain it at all costs.”

“India will have to accept Kashmir as an international dispute in submission to the ground situation here,” the Mirwaiz said.

“Demilitarization, release of political leaders and youth, repeal of draconian laws and withdrawal of cases against freedom lovers should be done to create an atmosphere conducive for a meaningful resolution of the Kashmir dispute which concerns the political destiny of the people here,” he added.

The Mirwaiz said unity among the separatist leaders was crucial at this critical juncture in the history of the separatist movement in Kashmir.

He was accompanied by Muhammad Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

“The decision to lead a march to Lal Chowk by the Mirwaiz is definitely aimed at orchestrating and fomenting anti-national feelings,” said an intelligence officer here.

A huge mob, returning from Lal Chowk, torched the office complex of the state electricity department.

Green flags were hoisted atop the clock tower in Lal Chowk by youth who shouted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Hundreds of youth riding motorcycles also gathered at the city centre, shouting slogans.

Earlier, a large number of people gathered outside the Hazratbal shrine after offering Eid prayers and torched the barracks of the local armed police posted on duty at the shrine.

“The guards fired warning shots in the air. Nobody was wounded in the incident,” a police officer said here.

Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are posted at various sensitive places and despite provocative slogans by the mobs, no force has been used by the security forces anywhere in Srinagar, he said.

“The situation is very tense and we are monitoring it closely,” the officer said.

“Instructions have been given to the deployed security forces to maintain restraint so that the designs of anti-social elements who are trying to incite people to violence are defeated,” the officer added.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered Eid prayers at a mosque close to his uptown Gupkar residence in Srinagar.

Reports from other major towns of the valley also said people were taking out anti-India rallies, shouting pro-freedom slogans after Eid prayers.