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Srinagar, Jun 05: Like other parts of the world, Eid ul Fitr was observed with religious gaiety and fervor across Jammu and Kashmir, the largest gathering of faithful including men and women to offer the Eid prayers was witnessed at historical Jama Masjid Srinagar.

Prior to Eid prayers, Mutahida Majlis Ulama head and Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed the mammoth gathering.

Besides shedding light on the philosophy of Eid ul Fitr, Mirwaiz prayed for the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan, stating that Confidence Building Measures could be a starting point which would pave way for the resolution of all issues amicably, including the long-standing Kashmir issue which is lingering for the past 70 years plus.

Mirwaiz reiterated the stand of Kashmiri leadership to help bridge the divide between them, which was imperative for resolution of Kashmir issues and to devise a mechanism for dialogue and deliberations.

Demanded the opening of traditional routes to facilitate travel and trade and families and friends contact between the divided parts of Kashmir, Mirwaiz said all natural routes of divided Jammu and Kashmir should be re-opened so that people are allowed to connect to their loved ones.

Mirwaiz hoped that the New Delhi’s new ruling dispensation will take positive steps for resolution of the basic political problem and will work for its redressal to end uncertainty once for all.

Mirwaiz said at this joyful occasion, Eid ul Fitr leadership and the people of Kashmir remember and stand with all those leaders, activists and youth detained in different jails in and outside the valley over the years, adding, we also remember the martyrs of Kashmir who rendered their precious lives for resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
Pertinently, special arrangement was made by the Auqaf Anjuman Jama Masjid Srinagar to facilitate the devotees who came from different parts of Valley to offer Eid Prayers.

Kupwara, June 5 : Government forces on Wednesday restored to aerial firing after people took out pro freedom demonstration at Markazi Jamia masjid in district kupwara post Eid Prayers.

An Eyewitness told KNO that post Eid prayers people in large numbers took out protest march from Markazi Jamia masjid towards jamia rood.

“The protesters were shouting pro freedom, Zakir Mussa slogans following which forces tried to pacify the protesters triggering intense clashes in the area,” an eyewitness told KNO.

He said forces fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters but the crowd reassembled in large groups leading to intense clashes.

“As the clashes intensified, government forces fired some gunshots in air and barged into the vicinity of Jamia Masjid,” the eyewitness told KNO.

Amid clashes scores of protesting youth suffered minor injuries, sources told KNO.There were reports of protests in Trehgam area as well. (KNO)

Sopore, June 05: Clashes were reported between protesters and government forces from Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district even as Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across Kashmir on Wednesday.

Witnesses told KNO that soon after the Eid prayers in Jamia masjid, Sopore hundreds of people assembled outside the mosque and started raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.

Protesters took to streets immediately after the Eid prayers were over and started raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
However, government forces including police and paramilitary personnel fired teargas shells to disperse them resulting in the clashes. The protesting youths pelted stones on the forces who retaliated with tear smoke shells.

Earlier Clashes also broke out between government forces and protesters in main town Kupwara following Eid Prayers at Markazi Jamia masjid Kupwara. Clashes also broke out at Nowhatta area after Eid prayers.

The festival of Eid was celebrated with much fanfare across the State with people thronging mosques, shrines and Eidgahs for special prayers.(KNO)

Pulwama, June 05 : Unknown gunmen on Wednesday morning shot dead a women and injured a youth in Narbal Kakapora area of South kashmir’s Pulwama district.

An official while talking to KNO identified the deceased lady as Nigeena.
“Both were shifted to PHC kakapora where doctors declared lady while as youth has been referred

Srinagar for specialized treatment,” the official told KNO. He said that police party has rushed to the spot and further investigation were going on.(KNO)

The Crescent for the Month of Shawwal has been Sighted. India will observe the Day of Eid Ul Fitr (1 Shawwal 1440) on Wednesday, 5 June 2019.

The Month of Ramadan will end tonight with 29 Fasts.

50 percent increase in J&K Bank ATM withdrawals this Eid

Srinagar, June 04 : Ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, J&K Bank’s Automated Teller Machines across Kashmir doled out almost Rs 600 crore during last three days which is 50 per cent more than the withdrawals during last Eid.

As per figures provided to KNO by the J&K Bank, more than Rs 600 crore were withdrawn from its ATMs through 11 lakh transactions from June 2 June 4 ahead of this Eid which is double than what was withdrawn on Eid-ul-Adha last year.

The ATM withdrawals this Eid is almost 50 per cent more than Eid-ul-Adha last year and the growth is clear, said an official of the bank. Almost Rs 300 crore were withdrawn by consumers across Kashmir from Automated Teller Machines ( ATMs) of J&K Bank during the last three days in the run up to Eid-ul-Adha in 2018 .

According to a senior J&K bank official, almost Rs 300 crore were withdrawn from its ATMs on August 19, 20, 21 last year which is 50 per cent less than what was withdrawn on June 2, 3, 4 this year before Eid .”

The amount last Eid was withdrawn through 5.61 lakh transactions at more than 694 ATMs across the Valley while as almost 11 lakh withdrawals have been seen this year on 3 days,” he told KNO

A bank official said reason of the higher volume of transactions is due to a wider ATM network across the Valley .He said Eid falling around the same time as employees salary getting credited was also a reason for the increase.

“The ATM network has grown by leaps and bounds and the high volume in ATM withdrawals is a clear indication of that ” he said.(KNO)

Imposing a sense of defeat and disempowerment on Kashmiris not acceptable.

Srinagar: Reacting to the media reports that Central Government was working on a proposal to redraw the Assembly Constituencies in J&K before the upcoming Assembly elections, Shah Faesal, President J&K Peoples Movement has requested the MHA to come clean on the matter in view of the alarm and anxiety in the State.

In a statement issued from Srinagar today, Shah Faesal said that any delimitation exercise in violation of the freeze imposed by J&K State Legislature till yar 2025 will be seen as manipulative and will have dangerous consequences for the State.

“It is going to be a gross provocation. If the idea is to adjust Assembly Constituencies to needs of the growing population then let’s wait for the Assembly to be reconstituted first. Taking such a decision before the elections clearly betrays a mischievous intent and will neither be ethically correct nor legally tenable”, Shah Faesal added.

Warning that any such attempt might further intensify the inter-provincial rivalry, Shah Faesal suggested that the new government in the Center should rather focus on revival of an authentic mainstream in J&K which can take such decisions while keeping the constitutional and demographic sensitivities in mind.

“This is giving an impression that central government is out to further disempower and alienate Kashmiris and there is no value for Kashmiri lives. Rather than taking steps to bring peace to the region it seems that arrangements are being made to turn it into a warzone.
No doubt Jammu and Ladakh regions deserve their due but there has to be a due process and State constitution has express provisions to that effect.
Deploying extra-constitutional measures to form a BJP-led government in the State will prove to be disastrous in the long term and political manipulation in a sensitive state like J&K must be avoided at any cost”, argued Faesal.

He called upon all regional political parties to come together and resist any such move that doesn’t take all stake-holders on board.

“It is turning out to be an existential battle and all political parties should immediately rise above petty agendas and unite in resistance to all these ridiculous proposals against the special status of the statue. There is need for a democratic and peaceful counter -offensive to this illegal assault on the political rights of the people of J&K”, proposed Shah Faesal.

SRINAGAR: Senior JKPM leader and Party General Secretary Shehla Rashid extend greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr.

“May this festival strengthen mutual goodwill and inspire each one of us to follow the path of love, friendship, harmony and peace in the entire state,” she said, in her Eid message.

Shehla said she is saddened for the people who suffered from oppression and poverty during sacred Eid-Ul-Fitr.

She appealed people to take care and help those needy people around you, so that they can also celebrate this joyous festival.

On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, Jammu Kashmir Muttaheda Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) chief and All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman, Mirwaiz Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq while extending Eid greetings to the entire Muslim Ummah and the Muslims worldwide caught in strife said, if the message of Eid al-Fitr was followed in letter and spirit, it would help the entire world blossom and that in reality only those people deserved to be felicitated who tried to follow the message of holy Quran and fulfill their duties during the month of Ramadan.

Stressing that as far as celebrating Eid al-Fitr in Jammu Kashmir was concerned, the Mirwaiz, in his Eid message, said people would, this year too, pray that their innumerable sacrifices do not go waste and resolve to carry forward the resistance struggle until their just struggle reaches its logical conclusion.

He said the Islamic world including Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Kashmiri Muslims were caught in a quagmire with innocent people being killed in bloodshed, the message of Eid on this occasion for the Muslim Ummah should collectively stand in unity against the anti-Islamic and oppressive forces to foil their nefarious designs.

Felicitating the Muslims throughout the world, who are caught in strife and conflict, the APHC Chairman prayed to the Almighty Allah to make the situation in these places conducive and help Muslims reach the heights and earn everyone’s respect.

Paying tributes to the Hurriyat leaders and freedom-loving people of Kashmir, who have been held in various jails and detention centres in Jammu Kashmir and outside for their resolve and steadfastness toward the resistance movement, he prayed for their good health.

Urging people to take stock of where the beloved Kashmir nation stood, the Mirwaiz said people should not overlook the sacrifices of lives and properties rendered by the elderly men and women, sisters and mothers and who continue to sacrifice for seeing the Kashmir issue reach its logical conclusion.

Hoping that well-off people would come to the rescue of the poor and the destitute, the needy and the orphans, the APHC Chairman called upon them to observe Eid al-Fitr with austerity and simplicity.