Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Dec 16: A nine-year-old boy was injured in stone pelting as clashes broke out at several places across Kashmir after Friday prayers today.
Clashes broke out at several places after Friday prayers as normal life was disrupted due to strike called by separatists. Police and CRPF were deployed at sensitive places to prevent any protests.
Protests and stone-pelting clashes took place in Nowhatta area of old city after the culmination of Friday prayers.
The protesters hurled stones on security forces who, were deployed in strength in the area. They in return fired teargas to disperse the protesters.
Police said that some miscreants started disrupting normal life by pelting stones on a police deployment immediately after the Friday prayers at Bada Bazaar Sopore.
“During the stone pelting one 9-year-old passerby Mursaleen Azad Dar son of Azad Ahmad Dar resident of Batapora, Sopore was hit by a stone and received head injury,” he said.
The spokesman said that the injured boy was immediately rushed to hospital for medical treatment. Police has registered a case and investigation was taken up.
Protests and stone pelting were also reported from Jamia Masjid, Sopore area after Friday prayers. Police and CRPF were deployed in strength in the area. Police fired tear-smoke to disperse the stone pelting protesters.
Stone pelting clashes were also reported from Baramulla.
In Bijbehara and Sangam areas of Anantnag district, protest marches were carried out after Friday prayers. The protesters pelted stones on the security forces in these areas triggering clashes. Police and CRPF fired teargas to disperse the protesters.
Clashes were also reported in Hamdania market area of Tral township of Pulwama district in South Kashmir after Friday prayers. Security forces fired teargas to disperse the protesters.
Elsewhere normal life remained disrupted in Kashmir in response to strike called by separatists. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was mostly off the roads. Schools and colleges were also closed.
Meanwhile, braving the cold, thousands of devotees thronged Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal lake on the eve of Friday following Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) for special prayers.
At the crack of the dawn, thousands of devotees thronged the Hazratbal shrine to have the first glimpse of the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad (SAW). Soon after the predawn prayers, devotees assembled at the compound of the shrine to witness the holy relic. As soon as the head priest displayed the holy relic devotees burst into tears and sought blessings.
On the occasion, the Islamic scholars addressed the gatherings and threw light on the life of Holy Prophet (SAW), His teachings and role in spreading messages of peace to the world at different places across Valley. Shrines and some masjids were decorated with festive buntings, banners and fancy lights.
Special congregational prayers and processions were also held at Janab Sahab Soura, Asar-i-Sharif Shahri Kalashpora, Lal Bazar, Khanqah-i-Maula, Ziarat Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib (RA), Syed Yaqoob Sahab (RA) Sonwar, Khawaja Naqshband Sahab (RA) and Ziarat Makhdoom Sahib (RA).
Reports said special prayers were also offered at Masjids and shrines in Anantnag mainly at Jamia Masjid Reshi Sahab, Khiram Sirhama, Kaba Marg, Dooru and Seer Hamdan and special prayers were also held in Pinjoora, Shopian, where the preachers urged people to desist from indulging in un-Islamic practices. People also held Milad processions in different parts of the Valley.
Almost all the shrines across Kashmir were overwhelmed with the devotees and special prayers and gathering were witnessed. Even as Eid Milad Un Nabi, which commemorates the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, was celebrated at every nook and corner of the valley, the Hazrat Shrine in Srinagar witnessed the largest gathering.
The celebration of Milad dates back to the 18th century after holy relic arrived here and ‘Bagh-i-Sadiqabad’, which houses the relic, came to be known as Hazratbal Shrine.
‘Friday following’ is part of distinct Milad celebrations held in the Valley that is observed on the first Friday falling after Eid-e-Milad. Eid-e-Milad, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, was observed yesterday on the 12th Rabiul-Awwal of the Islamic calendar.
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