15th Friday this year, Jamia Masjid witnesses no gathering for prayers

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 19-Oct-2018

For the 15th Friday this year, the historic Jamia Masjid in the Old city here in Nowhatta area of Srinagar remained closed for the Friday congregational prayers here on Friday, thus preventing people from offering mandatory Friday prayers in the grand mosque yet again. Amid strict restrictions in place, the authorities had erected barricades in all roads leading towards historic Jamia Masjid here to disallow people once again to offer the prayers at the historic grand mosque.In this morning, the district administration had imposed tight restrictions in Srinagar areas especially in Old city here to thwart any possible protests against Fateh Kadal killings where two Lashkar militants and their ‘active accomplice’ were killed on Wednesday morning in a fierce gunbattle. Witnesses and locals told (KNO) that all the gates of Jamia Masjid remained closed for the second consecutive week today. They said that a huge contingent of police and paramilitary troopers were deployed around the Jamia Masjid, thus sealing it from all the corners here yet again.However, Hurriyat (M) chairman and Jamia Masjid’s head cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who continued to remain under house detention was also not allowed to lead the prayers at the historic Masjid.Mirwaiz in this afternoon tweeted that the peaceful expression of protest against the atrocities and injustices was not allowed and people were once again barred from offering prayers in the grand masjid due to the curfew imposed by the authorities.He said that the people were made hostages in their homes by imposing curfew.“2nd consecutive Juma &15th of the year when Friday prayers barred at #JamaMasjid.Strict curfew imposed,people made hostages in their own homes in #ShahreKhas. No peaceful expression of protest against atrocities &injustices allowed,No law in the land except the law of #StateMight,” Mirwaiz tweeted.(KNO)