Few takers for sacrificial goats this Eid in Kashmir

Ahead of Bakra-eid (festival of animal sacrifice) celebrations, phone and internet services have been partly restored but people are not available to buy the sacrificial animals in the curfew bound Kashmir Valley. The state administration has eased restriction in movement of civilians for Eid prayers next week.

Srinagar (Jammu and kashmir): As the authorities eased restrictions in Kashmir on Friday, some cattle traders appeared on the roads here to sell their sheep and goat for Eid, but there were few takers.

Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance that the government is making all sincere efforts to ensure that the people in the region have no difficulties in celebrating Eid-ul-Azha, which is on Monday, sale of sacrificial animals is unimpressive in view of heavy security deployment.

While speaking to ETV Bharat, Zubair a businessman from the Valley said, "No matter how worse situation is but sacrificing animal on Eid is mandatory."

He said that neither they are able to get food for these sacrificial animals nor buyers, these animals are dying a slow death.

He further added: "If India is a democratic country then why they are not allowed to do the mandatory eid duties, why they are being stopped."

Gujjars and Bakarwal communities earn their living by rearing different kinds of domestic animals such as cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats and horses and for centuries move between Jammu and Srinagar regions bi-annually in search of greener pastures.

An uneasy calm prevails in the city where police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength to prevent any protest by residents against the centre government's move to abrogate constitutional provisions that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and divide the state in two union territories.

Not only the people dealing with sacrificial animals, businessmen dealing in bakery, readymade garments and sweets that usually used to witness high demand ahead of Eid are fearing huge losses as well.

The valley has been under heavy security cover for several days following a reported terror threat and modification of provisions of Article 370.

Parliament had approved a resolution abrogating special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and a Bill for splitting the state into two Union Territories.

Meanwhile, NSA Ajit Doval was seen interacting with a few locals in the Kashmir Valley, during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the security situation.

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