Kashmir valley erupted after Eid prayers on Tuesday following an Anti-Israel and Anti-American protest. On Eid-ul-Fitr, huge gatherings of Muslim worshipers thronged to mosques, prayer grounds and shrines across Kashmir while as protests and clashes broke out at various places after the congregations, witnesses said on Tuesday.The largest gathering of worshipers was witnessed in Eidgah in Old City where thousands of people offered congregational prayers.Kashmir’s chief priest, and chairman of his Hurriyat faction, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was kept under house arrest. He was scheduled to delivered sermon in Eidgah before prayers. Imam Hai led the prayers at the historic ground used for centuries for the congregational Eid prayers.
There were reports of similar gatherings from other district headquarters, towns, and villages of the Kashmir region.Soon after Eid prayers, hundreds of youth clashed with government forces in Eidgah. The protesters were chanting anti-Israel and anti-India slogans. The protesters, who were holding Palestinian flags hurled stones at forces, witnesses said.
At least three youth received minor injures, witnesses said.On the massacre of Gazans, Hurriyat leaders, who attended the Eidgah congregation, raised their voice against Israeli aggression against children and people of Palestine and Gaza. Hurriyat leaders and chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Javiad Mir who led a march from Eidgah strongly reacted against the "criminal silence of Arab leaders and other countries over their silence on Gaza attacks". Protesters raised anti Israel slogans and asked world community to raise the issue of Palestine and Kashmir at United Nations. On the occasion, the leaders strongly condemned the house arrest of All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairmen Mirwaiz, Syed Ali Geelani, and others.“On one side India claims zero tolerance but on the other side human rights violations in the state are being done by forces and other agencies of India which goes unnoticed every day. The movement of political leaders is being restricted and they are not allowed to raise their voice,” the leaders said.
Witnesses told Kashmir Dispatch that when the protesters moved out the historic prayer ground, they were intercepted by police and paramilitary Central Reserve police Force (CRPF), which triggered violent clashes in the area.The forces fired numerous teargas shells and chased the stone-throwing youth, which created panic in the area, witnesses said.The clashes continued for about half an hour between youth and government forces. In Bandepora, Varmul, and Sopore town of North Kashmir peaceful protests were held after Eid Prayers. Similar protests were held in Shupian and Anantnag town after Eid prayers. In Eidgah Bandepur, groups of youth clashed with Indian police. In Sopore town, youths tried to take out an anti-Israel march but were stopped by the government forces who were deployed in huge numbers. There were stone hurling clashes between youth and forces, witnesses said.
Pro-Palestine protests and rallies were held at many places in Tangmarg region. A huge congregational march was carried out at Kunzar and Khaipora after Eid prayers which later dispersed peacefully.In Anantnag, stone hurling clashes also broke out in Lazibal besides the Islamabad town. Jammu Kashmir Peoples League chairman, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, after prayers lead a peaceful protest demonstration against the aggression of Israel in Gaza.Hundreds of youths participated in the protest demonstration and raised pro-Islam, pro-freedom and pro-Gaza slogans and expressed their sympathy with the oppressed Palestinians.
"Protest demonstration started from Ashajipora but on reaching to Lal Chowk Indian security forces used brute force, fired tear smoke shells to quell the peaceful protesters," a spokesman of the JKPL said.The spokesman prayed for the early recovery of the youth who sustained injuries in forces action at Janglat Mandi in the district.There were reports of clashes between groups of youth and forces in Tral region of Pulwom district.
Pertinently, Geelani had called for peaceful protests against Israel attacks on Gaza for 30-minutes after the Eid congregations.Stoning was also reported from Lal Chowk, the heart of Srinagar, as well as Hyderpora and other parts of the city's old quarters."The administration had placed senior leaders including Geelani, Mirwaiz, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Muhammad Yasin Malik under house arrest to maintain peace," an official said.Keeping in mind the Eid atmosphere, police exercised restraint while dispersing the protesters, he added.Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered Eid prayers at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party leader Mufti Muhammad Sayeed offered prayers in Sonawar area of Srinagar.A police officer said that barring these few incidents, Eid celebrations were celebrated peacefully in the valley.