No Eid prayers to be held in Kashmir due to COVID-19

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

As the coronavirus infections are rapidly growing in the Indian-administered Kashmir, a religious body headed by separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq announced Monday the suspension of congregational Eid al-Fitr prayers.

In a joint statement, Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema -- a conglomerate of religious organizations -- said that in light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region, precautionary measures need to be adhered to.

Religious gatherings on the occasion of Laylat al-Qadr, or Night of Power, Jummat-ul-Vida, last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Fitr will remain suspended, it said.

Muslims all around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which they avoid eating from dawn until sunset.

Meanwhile 106 new cases were reported in the region on Monday. Among the positive cases were five doctors and 55 cops. The region also reported three new deaths, taking the tally to 16.

The positive cases have surged to 1,289 while 609 have also recovered.

Disputed region

Kashmir is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- two of them over Kashmir.

Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence or unification with neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.