Violent incidents mar Id festivities in J&K
The Hindu,
August 22, 2018
BJP activist shot dead; three policemen killed; Farooq faces hostile crowd at prayers in Srinagar
Violent incidents marred Id festivity in Kashmir as suspected militants shot dead three policemen and a BJP activist on Wednesday, the police said. Meanwhile, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah faced a hostile crowd during an Id congregation in Srinagar.
An official said a policeman, Fayaz Ahmed Shah, 34, was fired upon by the militants when he went to offer Id prayers in Kulgam’s Zazripora area.
Another policeman, Mohd. Yaqoob, died after gunmen fired upon him outside his house at Pulwama’s Louswani area.
In the third attack on the police, a sub-inspector, Muhammad Ashraf Dar, was shot dead at his house at Larve village. Mr. Dar, posted at District Police Lines, Budgam, was on leave to celebrate Id at home.
In another incident, a BJP activist was shot dead in Pulwama. The body of Shabir Ahmad Bhat was found at Litter Rakh. The victim went missing around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. “Mr. Bhat was the constituency president and in-charge of social media in Pulwama,” BJP leader Ashok Koul said.
Director General of Police S.P. Vaid said, “The political activist chose to go home in south Kashmir without the personal security officer, which proved fatal for him.”
He said the two deceased policemen [Yaqoob and Dar] “had ignored the advisory asking policemen not to go home without seeking permission and unprotected.”
The National Conference and the CPI(M) have condemned the killings. “My unequivocal condemnation of the use of violence to settle political differences,” said NC vice-president Omar Abdullah.
CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam, M.Y. Tarigami said such incidents are “inhumane and unfortunate.” “The perpetrators of violence have achieved nothing except for rendering irreparable loss to the families of those killed,” he said.
Earlier, Dr. Farooq Abdullah faced a hostile crowd at an Eid congregation in Srinagar.
Shown shoes
Dr. Abdullah, an MP from Srinagar, was booed at and shown shoes when he was seated at the first row of devotees for the Id prayers at Srinagar’s Hazratbal. Videos shot by devotees that went viral online later, showed Dr. Abdullah facing a hostile crowd, demanding his departure from the venue.
The crowd raised pro-freedom and pro-militant slogans, with many joining to shout “shame, shame”. Later, Dr. Abdullah cut short his Id prayers, with his SSG personnel guiding him to leave the venue.
“Azadi [freedom] won’t be achieved by shouting slogans, because in reality the border dividing India and Pakistan in Kashmir has not moved anywhere in the past 70 years. People behind booing and heckling should know that I won’t be cowed down or silenced by such acts,” said Dr. Abdullah.
Violence also erupted in parts of Srinagar and Anantnag after Id prayers. Security forces used teargas shells to contain the situation. Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivered his sermon at Idgah. Most Id sermons in the Valley mentioned the issue of Article 35A, which defines State-subject laws. “No power can tamper with the hereditary State subject law [Article 35A] and the people of all three regions in unison are ready to defend their citizenship law with their blood and with full force,” said the Mirwaiz.
Exchange sweets
In Jammu, Indian and Pakistan Army personnel exchanged sweets on the occasion of Id at the Chakan Da Bagh Crossing point. “The exchange was proposed by the Pakistan Army by hotline in the morning. Compliments were exchanged in an atmosphere of bonhomie and festivity,” said a defence spokesman.
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