Amid restrictions, Jamia siege continues for 3rd straight week
Srinagar: The historic Jamia Masjid in the Old City area of Nowhatta here on Friday continued to remain closed for the third consecutive week for the mandatory Friday congregational prayers.
Amid restrictions in Srinagar areas to thwart possible protest against the recent killings called by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), the authorities disallowed the people to offer the Friday prayers at the historic Masjid.
Notably, Jamia Masjid remained closed for 16th week this year.
Witnesses said that amid tight security around the Jamia Masjid, all the four gates of the grand Masjid remained locked throughout the day here.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman and Jamia Massjid’s head cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continued to remain under house detention from past 20 days.
Mirwaiz was disallowed again to lead the prayers at the historic Masjid today for the third consecutive week.
Witnesses said that the forces had also blocked the main roads today by erecting concertina wires on the roads, thus halting the pedestrian and vehicular movement.
Earlier, the JRL conspiring Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik had called for protest after Friday prayers today.
Meanwhile, protest rallies were carried at several places today on the call given by JRL.
A massive protest rally was taken out at Eidgah after Friday prayers against what protesters termed as the ‘ultimate oppression’ unleashed in the past one month that left over 30 people including a pregnant women dead, dozens of houses damaged and nearly 30 people maimed by pellets and bullets fired by the forces.
On the call of JRL, massive rallies were also held in various parts of Kashmir after Friday prayers. At Eidgah, the protest was led by senior APHC leader Muhammad Shafi Khan, Mushtaq Sofi, Sahil War, Farooq Ahmed Saudagar, Muhammad Yousuf Bhat and others.
Besides, on the call given by JRL, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leaders and activists staged a protest at Sarai Bala here.
As soon as the Friday prayers ended, JKLF leaders and activists assembled outside DastgeerSahab shrine here at Sarai Bala shrine and carried out a protest rally during which they raised slogans in favor of freedom.
