Eid in J&K peaceful barring few stray incidents: Police

Srinagar/Jammu: Barring stray protests, Eid-al-Adha prayers on Monday morning at various mosques in Jammu and Kashmir concluded peacefully, officials said, but the festive buzz was missing with curfew-like restrictions in place across the state.

According to the Union Home Ministry, people came out in good numbers to offer Eid prayers and 'namaz' was offered at prominent mosques in Srinagar and Shopian.

The authorities had on Sunday said people would be allowed to visit neighbourhood mosques to offer prayers.

Rohit Kansal, principal secretary and official spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir governor, said, "The Eid 'namaz' passed off peacefully in mosques across the state. Three stray protests took place but no one was injured."

He said elaborate arrangements were made by the divisional and district administrations for facilitating the celebration of Eid-al-Adha.

Sufficient stock of sheep for sacrifice was made available in the markets set up by the government at various places across districts, he added.

According to the Union Home Ministry, thousands offered prayers.

Over 4,500 people offered prayers at Eidgah, Jammu, the spokesperson said.

Earlier, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval undertook an aerial survey of the city and South Kashmir areas to take stock of the security situation.

Officials said police chief Dilbag Singh and Army commanders also undertook separate aerial visits of various parts of the Kashmir Valley.

The officers found the situation to be fine, they said.

Eid prayers were concluded peacefully across Jammu and Kashmir, they said.

Meanwhile, police in Jammu have sought cooperation from the general public for a secure and successful celebration of the Independence Day, urging them to immediately report any suspicious person or object.

It was a quiet, lonely Eid for former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti on Monday, quite unlike previous years when their homes were full of celebratory crowds of supporters, friends and family members, officials said.

The three leaders were detained after the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370.

Meanwhile, DTC on Monday cancelled the Delhi-Lahore bus service as Pakistan has decided to discontinue it in the wake of India revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special status, said a senior official of the public transporter.

A Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus was scheduled to leave for Lahore on Monday 6 am. However, it did not leave due to Pakistan's decision to suspend the bus service, the official said.

India on Monday told China that it is important to ensure that any bilateral differences should not become disputes, as Beijing said it is "very closely" following the Indo-Pak tensions over Kashmir and its "ramifications" and asked New Delhi to play a "constructive role" for regional peace and stability. See inside