For the first time in over two decades, there were no pro-Pakistan, or pro-Azadi slogans raised anywhere in the Jammu region during Eid celebrations, which passed off peacefully on Friday. Sources said that no untoward incident was reported during Eid processions at various places in Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts. Significantly, such provocative slogans used to be raised by mischievous elements joining the Eid processionists in the past. Only last Eid, police had arrested nearly half a dozen people including two government teachers for raising provocative slogans in Kishtwar town. In 2013, three people were killed and nearly 80 others injured, besides widespread arson and looting during communal clashes which broke out following statement such slogans at Kishtwar. However, this time the State government had made elaborate arrangements to check any untoward incidents as the Eid celebrations were coinciding with protests in the Valley over the recent State High Court order asking the police to enforce an already existing law against the slaughter of a bovine animal and its subsequent sale in the state. The 150-year-old legal provisions in the Ranbir Penal Code provided for a ten year imprisonment and fine to those slaughtering a bovine animal, besides one year imprisonment and fine to those selling such slaughtered animal. While in Kishtwar town, the police and paramilitary forces had on Thursday taken out a "march" appealing people to maintain communal harmony on Eid, the State government suspended Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir since midnight. This followed request by IGPs of both the Kashmir zone and Jammu zone to telecom operators for suspension of Internet services for two days beginning September 25 as these facilities were likely to be misused by anti-national and anti-social elements to create law and order problems for police and the administration for their vested interests. As a result, all the GPRS, broadband and leaseline internet services got suspended from 12 am on Friday. These will remain suspended till 10 pm on September 26, sources added. The action has been taken as a preventive measure in view of calls to slaughter bovine animals on Eid by various local organisations in the Valley on Eid and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Jammu threatening their economic blockade as a consequence thereof.
