Eid celebrated across India, clashes occur in Kashmir Valley

New Delhi, June 26 (IANS): Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, was celebrated across India on Monday with tens of thousands of Muslims converging at mosques to offer prayers and greet each other. In the turmoil-hit Kashmir Valley, clashes were reported between stone-pelters and security places at various places.

Eidgahs across various states saw members of the Muslim community coming out in large numbers to offer ‘Namaz-e-Eid’.

Thousands of people offered prayers at the Jama Masjid in Delhi, and main mosques in Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Srinagar, Bhopal, Bengaluru and several other places.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on the occasion, hoping that the auspicious day further the spirit of peace and brotherhood in our society.

A string of Bollywood personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Anil Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, wished their fans and followers a year full of happiness, peace and love.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday extended his greetings to the people of Kashmir on Eid, saying he hoped the festival will bring peace, harmony and happiness in the Valley.

However, clashes broke out on Monday between the security forces and stone pelters at several places in the Kashmir Valley after Eid prayers.

At least 10 protesters were injured in the clashes in Anantnag, Sopore, Kulgam, Pulwama and Pattan towns, police said.

Eid prayers elsewhere in the valley ended peacefully.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti offered Eid prayers at a mosque in the high security Sonawar area.

Heavy rains in Kerala forced Muslims to hold prayers and religious ceremonies indoors. Mutton and beef stalls were crowded at most places as people were seen queuing up to get their requirements for the day since late Sunday evening.

Huge congregations were seen at the historic Mir Alam Eidgah, Madannapet Eidgah, Ujale Shah, Balamrai, Makkah Masjid, Public Gardens mosque, hockey grounds, military grounds and Secunderabad Eidgah in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secundrabad.

Guests were treated to ‘sheer khorma’ (special sweet made of vermicelli, milk and dry fruits) and other dishes.

Amid the ongoing indefinite shutdown in the hills, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha leadership had announced a “partial relaxation for 12 hours” on Monday to enable the Muslims to celebrate the festival.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also greeted people on the occasion but also warned there is an “environment of intolerance” in the country and urged the people to stay united.

With tension remaining between India and Pakistan over terror attacks on security forces and ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir, no sweets were exchanged between the border guards at the joint checkpost at Attari-Wagah, 30 km from Amritsar.

Muslims observe ‘Black Eid’ over Haryana lynching
Gurugram: A majority of Meos (Muslims) in Haryana’s Mewat region on Monday observed a “Black Eid” by tying black bands on their arms to protest against the lynching of a young man four days ago.

The Muslim community in Mewat and adjoining region decided to express its anguish in the wake of the June 22 lynching of 19-year-old Junaid on a moving train by a group of people.

Junaid, a resident of Khandwali village near Ballabgarh, and four others were attacked by a group of people who called them “beef eaters” and “anti-national”.

Beside Junaid, a 55-year-old Pehlu Khan, a dairy farmer from Mewat’s Jaisinghpur village, was lynched by cow vigilantes on April 1 in Behror area of Alwar district in Rajasthan.

Many said they were also upset over the manner biryani samples were being collected to know if it was beef or not.

Mewat resident Kasim Khan told IANS that people could not have celebrated Eid with the usual sense of joy considering how Junaid and Pehlu Khan were killed.

“So we decided to mark our protest by wearing black bands around our arms,” he said.

One of those arrested over Junaid’s killing, before being remanded to police custody by a court in Faridabad on Saturday, told reporters that he was drunk at the time of the incident and attacked the teenager after being allegedly instigated by fellow passengers.