Srinagar:No Friday prayers could be offered for the eighth consecutive week in historic Jamia Masjid in Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) in Srinagar, where curfew has been re-imposed to foil protests and ‘Azadi March’ called by separatists against the killings of civilians in the ongoing unrest since July 9.
Curfew, which was relaxed after more than 52 days, was re-imposed in entire Srinagar to prevent fresh clashes in view of death of a minor boy yesterday and foil ‘Azadi march’ called by separatists against killing of 75 civilians in security force firing since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag.
A minor drowned in river Jhelum after security forces allegedly chased a group of protestors in the down town Srinagar yesterday.
Meanwhile, prayers were offered in the Valley, barring in Mosques on main roads, though devotees later joined protest marches in their areas, raising ‘pro-freedom’ slogans.
All roads leading to Jamia Masjid, where chairman of moderate HC Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq addresses congregation every Friday; remained closed with barbed wire.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), spearheading the present agitation in Kashmir since July 9, had urged people to take out ‘Azadi March’ from their localities towards respective Tehsil headquarters and offer Friday prayers there today, besides extended strike till September 8.
A large number of security forces and state police personnel remained deployed outside the Masjid and adjoining areas to stop any movement on the roads.
Last Friday also, no prayers could be offered due to curfew restriction, to prevent any demonstration.
There was also no “Azaan” (call or prayers) in the historic Masjid, local residents said alleging that nobody was being allowed to enter the area.
Friday prayers also could not be offered in some Mosques on main road in the downtown and SeK due to curfew restrictions, as security forces did not allow anybody to move out of their houses.
However, people offered Friday prayers in Mosques in the interior areas of downtown and SeK.
Friday prayers were also offered at Hazratbal shrine, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad, on the bank of Dal Lake though the number of devotees was again very less, compared to even normal days as people could not come from other parts of the valley due to curfew and other restrictions.
Friday prayers couldn’t be offered in Hazratbal Shrine on August 5, when separatists had asked people to assemble at the shrine and pray tribute to the people killed in security forces firing since July 9.
Friday prayers were held at the shrine of Hazrat Mukhdooom Sahib, Jenab Sahib Soura, Shehree Kalashpora, Syed Sahib Sonawar, Peer Dastigeer Sahib Khanyar and Saraibala and Hazrat Sheikh Dawood, Batmaloo.
Reports of offering of Friday prayers were also received from other parts of the valley.
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