Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir with gaiety and religious fervour, but clashes marred the festivities at a town in the valley as devotees clashed with police after being prevented from visiting the martyrs' graveyard.
Clash took place between locals and police in Anantnag, 55 km from here, leaving a woman and two policemen injured, official sources said.
Shortly after Eid prayers, groups of people wanted to visit the martyrs graveyard to offer prayers. But police prevented them from proceeding. Agitated groups hurled stones on them prompting a lathicharge, the sources said.
In the rest of the valley, the day passed off peacefully with special Eid prayers at mosques and sacrifices of goat. Hundreds of men, women and children visited Hazratbal shrine and Jamia Masjid to offer prayers.
The largest gathering was witnessed at Hazratbal shrine, where the holy relic of prophet Muhammad is kept.
Braving sub-zero temperature in Kargil district, people offered prayers in mosques and eidgahs. The night temperature in the district was minus 11 degrees Celsius.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah offered prayers at Hazratbal shrine. He also received public at his Wazarat road residence in Jammu later in the day.
At historic Jamia Masjid in Old City, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq delivered sermons to a large gathering of devotees.
Comments