Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid after 6 weeks

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 4

The Jammu and Kashmir Government allowed congregational prayers at the Jamia mosque in old Srinagar for the first time after six weeks.

Moderate Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not allowed to visit the mosque as he continued to remain under house arrest.

Mirwaiz addressed the gathering over phone and termed the Kashmiri “struggle” as “indigenous”. “Nobody will be allowed the hamper with the indigenous nature of the struggle,” he said.

He lashed out at Indian television channels for “defaming” the separatist leadership. “These channels are indulging in propaganda,” he said.

There was no restriction in the old city on Friday — the first time since June 23 — and people were seen heading to Jamia mosque to offer prayers.

The government had been imposing restrictions on Fridays after security wing DSP Mohammed Ayub Pandith (57) was beaten to death in Nowhatta on the night of June 22.

A large posse of the police and CRPF remained deployed in volatile areas in the old city since the morning. Clashes broke in the Nowhatta area after the culmination of Friday prayers.

A group of youths raising anti-India and “pro-freedom” slogans tried to take out a march outside the Jamia mosque premises, which was not allowed by the police.

The youths later threw stones and the clashes continued for nearly an hour. The police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters, eyewitness said.

A police officer said the situation remained largely peaceful in the old city. “There was a small group of youths inside the mosque premises that indulged in stone pelting. The situation remained peaceful in the old city and there was no report of any casualty so far,” he said.

Clashes thereafter 

• Clashes broke in the Nowhatta area after the culmination of Friday prayers.
• A group of youths raising anti-India and “pro-freedom” slogans tried to take out a march outside the Jamia mosque premises, which was not allowed by the police.
• The youths later threw stones and the clashes continued for nearly an hour. The police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters, eyewitness said.