By, Sofi Iqbal, Agence India Press
Srinagar: After many days of unrest, on the eve of Eid, curfew was not imposed anywhere in the Kashmir Valley on Friday and the separatists didn’t call for a shutdown, enabling people to prepare for the festival.
“No curfew or preventive restrictions are in force anywhere in the valley today (Friday),” a police officer told Agence India Press.
“There were no restrictions imposed anywhere yesterday (Thursday) also to allow people to shop for the Eid-ul-Fitr festival being celebrated tomorrow,” he added.
A large number of people had finished their bit of Eid shopping on Thursday itself. Shops, banks and other businesses were open and public transport plied normally on the city roads. But not too many were seen buying mutton, poultry, bakery and other food items as people want to keep the Eid celebrations low-key this year due to the present unrest in the valley that has claimed 70 lives.
“In the present uncertainty, the best celebration is to pray for peace in the valley. I did not buy new clothes for myself and my family this Eid and believe me, nobody complained at home as they understand the valley is passing through one of its worst troubles this time,” said Nazir Ahmad, a 46-year-old bank officer here.
Reports from other towns of the valley said people were not exhibiting much enthusiasm in shopping this year. “Special checking squads have been formed to ensure that traders do not overcharge and people are able to celebrate Eid without any scarcity of essential commodities,” an official said.
The separatist Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has asked people to celebrate an austere Eid and not to indulge in wasteful
expenditure in the wake of the 70 deaths in clashes between security forces and protesters since June 11.
Geelani continues to remain under arrest after he was shifted from his uptown Hyderpora residence in Srinagar to the Humhama police station in central Budgam district on Wednesday.