On the 18th consecutive Friday, the authorities continue to disallow mandatory congregational Friday prayers in the historic Jamia Masjid here.Notably, the Jamia Masjid remained locked since July 9 of this year following the uprising in the Valley that triggered after the killing of Hizb commander, Burhan Wani in a gunfight in Bumdoora village of Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on July 8.The authorities today imposed strict restrictions in old city areas here to thwart people from marching towards Jamia Masjid.The Jamia Masjid chalo call was given by the separatist leaders including Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik in joint statement issued to media on Wednesday.A police official told KNS, “Restrictions were imposed in a few Srinagar areas to thwart any possible protest march towards Jamia Masjid today.” 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 didn’t allow congregational prayers at historic Jamia Masjid nor did they permit the call for prayers, much to the disappointment of thousands of devotees who would normally offer Friday prayers there.Inhabitants living nearby to Jamia Masjid that they were once again forced to offer mandatory congregational Friday prayers at small Masjid’s.Meanwhile, Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Geelani and Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who were scheduled to lead a protest towards Jamia Masjid were stopped by the authorities.Geelani was disallowed to march towards Jamia Masjid as the authorities had locked both the gates of his residence while Mirwaiz tried to lead a protest march from his Nigeen residence but forces deployed outside his residence stopped him and detained him.Notably, the last mandatory congregational Friday prayers were offered at the historic Masjid on July 8, on the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr. (KNS)