The mandatory Friday congregational prayers were once again disallowed today by the authorities at the historic Jamia Masjid in Old city here while the people were allowed to offer congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid Shopian after 18 consecutive weeks.Notably, it is the longest period in recent that Jamia Masjid have been locked down after Maharaja Rule.
For the eighteen consecutive Friday today, the authorities barred people from offering congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid. Authorities didn’t even permit the call for prayers, much to the disappointment of thousands of devotees who would normally offer Friday prayers there.
Sources said that the authorities had imposed strict restrictions in Nowhatta area of Srinagar to bar people from offering Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid here.According to local residents, huge deployment of forces was once again deployed since the wee hours of this morning in the locality.Meanwhile, congregational Friday prayers were offered at Jamia Masjid Shopian after eighteen weeks today.Reports said that the prayers were allowed by the authorities at the Masjid in the south Kashmir district after eighteen weeks.“There were no restrictions today. So, we rushed to the mosque to offer Friday prayers there,” reports quoting a local said.Pertinently, the last Friday prayers were offered at the Jamia Masjids on July 8, on the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr. People in Srinagar mostly prefer to offer Friday prayers at the grand mosque. (KNS)