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No Friday prayers in Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid amid restrictions

MAJID NABI. Dated: 7/7/2018 12:29:27 AM

SRINAGAR, July 6: Friday congregational prayers could not be held at historic Jamia Masjid today as the authorities imposed stringent restrictions in Nowhatta area of old city ahead of JRL call for shutdown on Sunday.
Restrictions under sections 144 were imposed in Nowhatta and its adjoining areas to avoid any untoward incident keeping in view Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL’s) call for complete shutdown on 2nd death anniversary of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Commander, Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8.
Burhan Wani, the 21-year-old poster boy of militancy in the Valley with 10-lakh rupees bounty, was killed in an encounter with government forces in south Kashmir’s Kokernag area on July 8, 2016 triggering massive agitation in Kashmir.
Most of the separatist leaders were either arrested or placed under house detention to prevent them from leading any protest which may challenge the law and order situation in Srinagar city.
Octogenarian leader who heads his faction of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani continued to be under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence while Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was arrested from his residence at Maisuma this morning.
Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq who delivers Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid on every Friday, was also placed under house detention at his Nigeen residence here.
The situation in volatile area however remained calm with no untoward incident reported from any area even as the authorities barred people from offering Friday prayers at central mosque.
Pertinently Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik has called for complete shutdown in Kashmir valley on July 8 to commemorate the slain HM militant, Burhan Wani on his second death anniversary.
The trio said they would also hold a public meeting in Tral, native town of Wani on July 8 and asked religious clerics to hold Fateh Khwani on July 6th to commemorate Wani and 126 others killed during 2016 uprising.