For many in Assam,Eid celebration in relief camps

For Hasinur Rahman Miya,a victim of the recent Kokrajhar violence,the Eid namaz on Monday will be different

For Hasinur Rahman Miya,a victim of the recent Kokrajhar violence,the Eid namaz on Monday will be different. Currently lodged in a relief camp at Kamandanga High Madrasa School in Dhubri district after having fled from his village in adjoining Kokrajhar district,Hasinur will have to attend prayers in the Kamandanga idgah maidan instead of his village idgah,about 15 km from there.

We have arranged for two shifts of prayers tomorrow. The local people of Kamandanga will attend prayers at 8:30 am,and those lodged in the relief camps will gather at 9:30 am, said A K Sheikh,headmaster of the Kamandanga High Madrasa School,and a member of the local Eid celebration committee.

Members of a local peace committee comprising Hindus and Muslims also distributed sweetmeats in the relief camps in Kamandanga area on Sunday,Sheikh informed.

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The authorities in Dhubri,Kokrajhar and Chirang,the three affected districts,have asked the Muslims in relief camps to either offer Eid prayers within the relief camps (which are mostly in schools and have a lot of open space) or go to the nearest local idgah.

They can offer prayers in the relief camps or go to the idgah in the nearby village. It is up to them, Jayant Narlikar,Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar said over the telephone.

In Dhubri,which has over 1.45 lakh Muslims in 133 camps,the district authorities have asked the camp residents to preferably offer prayers in the camps itself. It will be always advisable to pray within the relief camps. We have arranged for extra security tomorrow, said Dhubri Deputy Commissioner Kumud Chandra Kalita.

Meanwhile,the state government on Sunday distributed sewai,sugar,rice and milk powder to all the relief camps irrespective of religion and faith on the occasion of Id on Monday. We have distributed sewai and other items for preparing kheer, Kalita said.

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The Ajmal Foundation,headed by AUDF president and Lok Sabha member Badruddin Ajmal,has distributed suji,milk powder,kismis and other items among relief camp residents on the occasion of Id. We have distributed milk powder,suji,kismis and sugar provided by Ajmal Foundation to all the relief camps under our Parbatjhora block, Khairul Alam Miyan,president of the Parbatjhora anchalik panchayat,said over the phone.