Authorities today disallowed Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta here and clamped strict restrictions in various parts of downtown to prevent protests on the Republic Day.Joint resistance leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik had called for protests after Friday prayers against the civilian killings and use of indiscriminate force and demolition of property by forces.Reports reaching GNS said that contingents of police and CRPF arrived in Nowhatta and adjoining areas in the morning and imposed restrictions. They said forces laid barbed wires on main roads and sealed the Jamia Masjid. Restrictions were also imposed in adjoining Rajouri Kadal, Bhori Kadal, Malarrata, Saraf Kadal areas.
Locals said forces did not allow civilian movement in these areas and enforced curbs strictly. They said Jamia Masjid was sealed from all sides and no one was allowed towards it.An official of the district administration said restrictions under section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in Old City areas.To prevent the chief of his faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from delivering weekly sermon at Jamia Masjid, authorities placed him under house arrest on Thursday evening. The Hurriyat Conference has condemned the continued house arrest of Mirwaiz and closure of Jamia Masjid for Fridayprayers.Mirwaiz condemned the disallowing of Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid.“Once again no prayers allowed in barricaded and garrisoned downtown including at the #JamaMasjid ,while all channels of communication remain blocked and leadership put under forced detention by the ‘republican state’”,” tweeted Mirwaiz. (GNS)