Eid prayers turn to protests in Kashmir

Thousands of demonstrators yesterday staged noisy anti-India protests in Kashmir after prayers to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Thousands of Muslims poured into the streets, shouting, “We want freedom!” and “Allah is great,” after offering Eid prayers in the northern town of Sopore, about an hour’s drive from the state’s summer capital Srinagar. The protests were led by hardline separatist Syed Ali Geelani following prayers for the Eid al-Fitr festival. Geelani addressed a huge gathering in Sopore’s main square, urging India to end its “occupation of Kashmir.” “People of India are our brothers. We have no animosity towards them. We only urge India to end its occupation of Kashmir,” Geelani said, as mainly young Kashmiri men chanted: “Go India, go back!” Sopore was once the bastion of pro-Pakistan militants but in recent years the guerrilla presence has lessened following the start of a peace process between India and Pakistan. In Srinagar, meanwhile, police used tear gas to disperse crowds after another top separatist and leading cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed thousands of worshippers as pro-freedom slogans rang out. Farooq later urged India’s leading anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare to “also voice concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir.” “People like Hazare should help us in ending human rights violations by troops in our state,” Farooq told the crowd. Anti-India sentiments run high in Kashmir where security forces are often accused of human rights violations by the local population. Indian officials say they investigate every claim and punish the guilty. Hazare ended his 12-day fast last weekend when the Indian government conceded to the former army truck driver’s demands for tough anti-corruption legislation. Meanwhile, millions celebrated Eid across India, home to the world’s third largest Muslim population.Tens of thousands of Muslims, mostly men and children, poured into open prayer grounds and mosques to offer morning prayers to mark the end of the month-long fasting.In Delhi, thousands thronged the three biggest mosques - the 17th century Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid in Old Delhi and the Idgah mosque in central Delhi.Many foreigners, diplomats as well as refugees, also joined the prayers and festivities. Special prayers were offered in numerous embassies in the capital.Similar scenes were reported from all over the country.In Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, the festival was celebrated with traditional enthusiasm.However, one person was killed and 10 were injured during a communal clash in the northern state’s Kaushambhi district.Violence erupted after Hindus and Muslims in Kokhraj area had an argument over the playing of a loudspeaker.“Muslims objected to the playing of the loudspeaker by Hindus. After hurling abuses at each other, members of the two communities started clashing with stones and sticks,” police said.A 42-year-old man died in the clash, while 10 people from both communities were injured.Muslims gathered at the historic Jama Masjid in south Mumbai. Prayers were held all over the city.Qari Waqar Ahmed, who led the Eid prayers at Chhota Masjid in Mumbai, appealed to the Muslims to have faith in communal harmony and not be misled by calls for jihad.Malayalam superstar Mammootty joined the prayers in Kochi in Kerala, a quarter of whose population is Muslim. Eid celebrations were reported from all over Tamil Nadu.In Assam, non-Muslims greeted Muslims in the state capital Guwahati. Reports of celebrations came from all districts of Bihar. Thousands joined prayer meetings in Gujarat and Rajasthan.