SRINAGAR: With the separatist called march in the city center, Lal Chowk, looming just four days away, Kashmiri Muslims were out yesterday in large numbers to shop to their hearts fill for the Eid Al-Fitr which ends the monthlong Ramadan fasting.
The people are busy making purchases of eatables particularly bakery, mutton, poultry and garments. The capital Srinagar markets look resplendent after a long time with the over three months long agitation which took a toll of 50 lives and left hundreds wounded.
However, despite the festive look that the city center presents, the separatist called Lal Chowk march slated for Oct. 6 is looming large ahead with only a few days left to it. Both the government and the separatists seem to be bracing up for the event with majority of the people apprehending imposition of curfew ahead of the march.
The people are making extra purchases this Eid festival to keep adequate stocks of essential items available in their homes to meet any eventuality that may be thrown by the administrative response to the march.
“Last month, we faced lot of problems during the nine-day-long curfew. This time I won’t repeat that mistake,” said Mehraj-ud-Din, a local here. The authorities, though tightlipped on their likely response to the separatist march, are finalizing their deployment plans.
“We will respond as the situation develops. We will take all necessary measures needed to deal with a particular situation,” a senior police officer said.
Dozens of marriages have been brought forward because of the march which is an indication of its impact. The marriages were earlier spread over the entire month of October which have now been scheduled later this week because of the fear of violence and curfew making marriage ceremonies impossible.
