J&K: NSA Ajit Doval celebrates Eid with locals in Srinagar, to hold briefing later in the day

As Eid-ul-Adha is being celebrated nationwide, NSA Ajit Doval is in Srinagar to celebrate the festival with the locals. Doval who is in the state to review security situation after Article 370 has abrogated, will meet the locals. He will later brief the media. The government has been issuing statements, videos and pictures of normalcy in the state even as the Opposition continues to accuse that abrogation of special status of the state has brought life to halt in the valley. 

Information received from the Home Ministry on August 12 stated that Eid prayers were offered peacefully in the district of Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipore. It also said that approximately 10,000 people were present to offer prayers at Jamia Masjid in Baramulla. The Home Ministry also shared pictures of CRPF jawans and Jammu and Kashmir Police sharing sweets and smiles with the locals on the ocassion of Eid. 

Republic TV has been live from the various parts of the state where people have been celebrating Eid. Visuals show security officials distributing sweets and celebrating the festivities with people. "Everything is peaceful. The restriction have eased and there has been lot of improvement in public and transport movement," Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said.

NSA Ajit Doval's ground report:

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval who is in the valley sent a report to the Home Ministry saying the situation is normal in Kashmir.

On ground to review security situation, NSA Ajit Doval told the Centre that the decision to revoke Article 370 has been widely welcomed by the people of Kashmir. There is peace and normalcy in J&K and it had been event free. No agitation and people are also moving about for essential work," NSA Ajit Doval said.

Further in his report, NSA Ajit Doval said locals feel reassured with Amit Shah's statement on Jammu and Kashmir becoming a state again. Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that J&K will become a state again one day at the appropriate time if situation improves and that we don’t want it to remain UT forever has been welcomed by local population, Doval said. Locals are supportive and feel the change was well-planned and feel sufficiently reassured by statements and actions of Centre, Doval mentioned in his report to the Centre.

READ: As Kashmir celebrates Eid, Congress continues to peddle lies to fearmonger over Article 370's revocation

State Police statement on Kashmir:

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday night said the situation in the state was peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported in last one week. "There has been no untoward incident barring minor stone-pelting which was dealt with on the spot and was nipped in the bud," Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told PTI. Another cop also shared a drone video that showedcnormalcy in various districts of the state. 

He was asked about the situation in the state after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told media-persons in New Delhi that situation in J-K has deteriorated.Minutes after Gandhi made the statement, the Srinagar Police also tweeted that the situation was peaceful. "Situation in valley has remained normal today. No untoward incident has been reported. At selective locations restriction was lifted temporarily," it said. 

READ: PM Narendra Modi wishes nation on Eid al-Adha