Eid-e-Milad celebrated with fervour

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Muslim devotees thronged mosques to celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi with religious fervour as authorities on Sunday eased out restrictions in most parts of Jammu region but did not allow any major procession due to prohibitory orders in Kashmir region.

Restrictions were witnessed in most parts after the authorities imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday midnight as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order ahead of Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case.

Barring border district of Poonch and some sensitive pockets, the people in Jammu region were allowed free movement with police and paramilitary personnel removing the blockades and barbed wire from the roads early this morning.

In Kashmir, however, authorities were more cautious and didn’t allow any major Eid-Milad-un-Nabi processions celebrating the birthday of Prophet Mohammad towards the Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar.

However, a local gathering was allowed outside the revered shrine which houses the holy relic of the Prophet.

Before this, all major religious functions were disallowed in Kashmir including the traditional Khoje-Digar prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Naqshband Sahib at Khojebazar area of Srinagar's old city.

The Friday congregational prayers have also been disallowed at the historic Jama Masjid here since the Centre announced its decision to abrogate Article 370 and to bifurcate the erstwhile state into two Union territories.

Normal life remained affected across the valley for the 99th day on Sunday as public transport was off the roads markets opened only for few hours till noon, the officials said.

In Jammu, as the day passed off peacefully, the curbs on the movement of the people was lifted late Saturday, and early Sunday.

The officials said strict restrictions, however, remained in force in Poonch district for the second day on Sunday with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel.

The roads in some sensitive pockets in Jammu, Kishtwar and Ramban districts were also blocked by security forces, they said.

A huge Millad procession was allowed in Rajouri district town but no other major religious processions, including 'nagar kirtan' by Sikhs, were permitted by the authorities anywhere else, the officials said.

However, Muslim and Sikh devotees were allowed to assemble at their places of worship, the officials said, adding that devotees took out minor processions in their localities but were not allowed to move on the main roads.