India Bans Friday Congregational Prayers in Srinagar

Srinagar, 20 Muharram 1438/21 October 2016 (MINA) – The India government has disallowed Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of old Srinagar for the past 15 weeks by imposing strict curbs.

Hurriyat Conference (M) spokesman, advocate Shahid-ul-Islam said locals including traders from Jamia Masjid had organised a peaceful protest and a sit-in against the continuous “siege” of Jamia, Greater Kashmir reported.

Locals at Nowhatta said Mirwaiz is not just the Hurriyat (M) chairman but also a religious leader. “Tomorrow will be the 15th Friday in a row when there would be no congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid. We urge the government to lift the siege and not impose any curbs here tomorrow. Government should also release Mirwaiz forthwith,” they said.

Amid complete shutdown across Kashmir, protests and clashes erupted in several areas while forces foiled a peaceful sit-in against complete lockdown of historic mosque on Thursday, October 20.

Reports said police detained two youth for allegedly damaging J&K Bank property at Budshah Nagar, Nattipora here yesterday while hunt for others involved in the act is on. Police had on Wednesday registered FIR into the damage caused to the Bank property by some persons. Reports from Zainageer area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district said forces foiled a rally and allegedly thrashed many women in the area.

Reports from Ganderbal district said clashes broke out between protesters and forces in Cherwan area of Kangan. Forces resorted to teargas shelling to disperse stone-pelting protesters at Cherwan. Locals accused the forces of smashing windowpanes of residential houses in the locality after the clashes ended. Reports said clashes broke out in Khudwani village of Qaimoh in Kulgam district of South Kashmir.

Reports said clashes erupted at Nowhatta after police foiled a peaceful rally of people who were demanding lifting of curbs on Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid.

“Tomorrow will be the 15th Friday in a row when there would be no congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid. We urge the government to lift the siege and not impose any curbs here tomorrow. Government should also release Mirwaiz forthwith,” they said.

But, according to a statement issued by the Zonal Police headquarters Kashmir, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the Kashmir. The statement said that with constant improvement in the situation coupled with increase in traffic and pedestrian movement in Srinagar and other main towns, the overall situation remained peaceful in the valley. (T/P001/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)