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| | Life returns to normal | | People throng gutted shrine; Mirwaiz, Malik visit | | SRINAGAR, Jun 30: Life returned to normal today after five days of undeclared curfew and shutdown over the destruction of the shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) at Khanyar. Some separatist leaders and large number of people visited the gutted shrine.
Much to the relief of residents, the old city was released from undeclared curfew which had been in force since Monday. The main roads, lanes and by-lanes were free of the heavy deployment police and CRPF and barricades, allowing unchecked movement of the civilians.
The shops, business establishments, educational institutions, government offices and banks went about their routine business in entire Valley. The public and private transport could be seen moving around in full strength since early morning.
Some separatist leaders who were under house arrest all these days visited the damaged shrine. The prominent among them were Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik.
Mirwaiz, who is the chief cleric of Kashmir, became distressed on seeing the ruins of the over 200-year-old revered shrine. After a detailed inspection of the site, Mirwaiz met the caretaker of the shrine, Syed Khalid Geelani, discussing the circumstances that led to the incident.
Addressing the gathering surrounding the shrine, Mirwaiz termed the incident as “highly regrettable” and “heart wrenching”.
“We appreciate the tolerance and courage displayed by the people…We maintain our demand for an independent and impartial probe to unravel the mystery,” he said, adding “a probe committee should be formed and headed by Sajada Nisheen (caretaker) with civil society and noted Ulemma as its members.”
The Hurriyat (M), he said, does not want to play politics over the issue.
“We advise the Government of India not to play politics over the shrine incident. The Kashmiri people have enough courage, strength and magnanimity to re-build the shrine without taking aid from outside,” he said, and asked people to defeat the miscreants trying to damage the social fabric.
Mohammad Yasin Malik too paid a detailed visit to the shrine, describing the damage as a loss of “sacred asset.”
“The centuries old shrine was a source of spirituality to people. Here people used to be encouraged towards worship,” he said.
Malik, however, said the JKLF would “assist like a policeman” the civil society if the latter decides to probe the incident independently.
Besides the separatists, Khanyar was abuzz with devotees, including men, women and children, gauging the extent of destruction. In fact, the rush was enough to affect the smooth flow of traffic through the area.
The devotees could be seen tearfully wailing and mourning the loss of the much revered shrine.
“I feel pained to see the extent of destruction. If you believe me, I am not able to face it,” a middle aged woman, who had come from Illahibagh, said with moist eyes.
A good number of women could be seen praying and seeking blessing at the site. Many went inside the ruins to sneak a deeper look.
“My heart is paining…,” Fehmeeda, a local woman devotee, said.
Separatists visit Gund Hassibhat
Yasin Malik and a Hurriyat Conference (M) delegation separately visited Gund Hassibhat near Lawaypora here where holy Koran was desecrated and Alam Sharief burnt down.
Malik termed the incident as “an attempt to pitch Muslims of the valley against each other.”
“On one hand we are losing our shrines, and on the other our Imam Baras, Alam Sharief and Masjids are on the target of the enemy. The civil society, Ulema, scholars and columnists shall rise above the division of sects and take the matter seriously,” he appealed.
Malik appreciated the “courage and patience” displayed by the people of the area.
“It is an example for all of us,” he said and added that the elements desecrating holy Koran or the religious places “cannot be Muslims or their friends.”
Meanwhile, a Hurriyat (M) delegation based on Agha Syed Hassan Al Moosvi, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Ghulam nabi Zaki, Musadiq Adil, Ghulam Ahmad Nagoo and Hakim Abdul Rashid also visited the area.
The delegation hailed the people for their patience and unity at a sensitive time.
It appealed the residents “to remain alert and maintain brotherhood to foil the plans of the miscreants who want to divide people by hook or crook.” |
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