Beef ban puts Kashmir on edge on Eid day
Last Updated IST
A teargas shell fired by Indian police explodes during a protest by Kashmiri demonstrators after Eid al-Adha prayers in Srinagar. Reuters photo
Several people, including policemen were injured, as violence erupted after Eid prayers at many places in Kashmir against the beef ban issue on Friday.
To maintain law and order, authorities had placed separatist leaders under house detention and suspended internet services to prevent spread of rumours.
Reports said as soon as Eid prayers were over, angry youths took to streets in various localities in old Srinagar and threw stones at police and paramilitary forces, who in turn fired in the air.
Several people, including a videographer of a national channel, were hurt in the clashes. The police and CRPF personnel in full riot gear were deployed in sensitive areas of the old city to maintain order.
Reports said a few people waived Pakistani flags during the clashes in the volatile Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta and Eidgah areas of the old city.
Similar incidents were reported from Anantnag district in south Kashmir where police stopped people from sacrificing bovine animals in the central Eidgah. “As a group of people was marching towards Eidgah with a cow, police lobbed teargas shells and fired in the air to disperse the crowd. The protesters threw stones and the pitched battles continued for several hours,” eyewitnesses told Deccan Herald over phone. They said several people, including policemen, were injured in the clashes.
Internet blocked
Meanwhile, authorities banned Internet services, including broadband, inconveniencing people in the state. The police said the step was taken to prevent miscreants from spreading rumours on social media. Authorities feared that mischief makers would spread hatred in the wake of beef-ban controversy.
To maintain law and order, authorities had placed separatist leaders under house detention and suspended internet services to prevent spread of rumours.
Reports said as soon as Eid prayers were over, angry youths took to streets in various localities in old Srinagar and threw stones at police and paramilitary forces, who in turn fired in the air.
Several people, including a videographer of a national channel, were hurt in the clashes. The police and CRPF personnel in full riot gear were deployed in sensitive areas of the old city to maintain order.
Reports said a few people waived Pakistani flags during the clashes in the volatile Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta and Eidgah areas of the old city.
Similar incidents were reported from Anantnag district in south Kashmir where police stopped people from sacrificing bovine animals in the central Eidgah. “As a group of people was marching towards Eidgah with a cow, police lobbed teargas shells and fired in the air to disperse the crowd. The protesters threw stones and the pitched battles continued for several hours,” eyewitnesses told Deccan Herald over phone. They said several people, including policemen, were injured in the clashes.
Internet blocked
Meanwhile, authorities banned Internet services, including broadband, inconveniencing people in the state. The police said the step was taken to prevent miscreants from spreading rumours on social media. Authorities feared that mischief makers would spread hatred in the wake of beef-ban controversy.