Stray incident apart, Eid prayers offered peacefully in Kashmir

Srinagar - Save for a stray incident of some youths torching a police vehicle in Srinagar, Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were offered amid peace and tranquility across Jammu and Kashmir Monday.

Police said that after the congregational prayers at the Eidgah grounds in Srinagar's old city area, some youths torched a police vehicle.

Senior police officials were rushed to the spot where some youths indulged in stone pelting at the security forces.

Thousands of Muslims across the state offered prayers Monday as thanksgiving after the end of Ramzan.

In Srinagar and other towns of the Valley, locals started gathering at Eidgahs since early morning. After offering prayers, people greeted and hugged each other.

Children and youth wearing new clothes added special colour to the Eid festivities.

Muslims eat lunch on Eid-ul-Fitr after 30 days of fasting during Ramadan.

Authorities had made special security arrangements at various Eidgahs in the state to ensure peaceful conduct of the prayers.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and members of his council of ministers joined devotees in offering prayers.

The chief minister offered prayers at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.

According to reports reaching here, Eid prayers were offered peacefully in district headquarters of Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara, Badgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag.

In Kargil district of the state's Ladakh region, Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated on Sunday.

All senior separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabir Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Muhammad Nayeem Khan were placed under house arrest in Srinagar.

Police said it was done to maintain law and order during the festival.

Authorities have been preventing the separatist leaders from addressing large public meetings since the 2010 summer unrest in which 107 people died in bloody clashes with the security forces.