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No prayers at Jamia Masjid, restrictions in old city

MAJID NABI. Dated: 3/23/2019 12:22:00 PM

SRINAGAR, Mar 22: Authorities disallowed congregational prayers at historic Jamia Masjid at Nowhatta area in old city while valley’s chief cleric and Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest his residence on Friday.
The move, officials said, was taken fearing demonstrations ahead of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) protest against custodial killing of Awantipora youth earlier this week.
Stringent restrictions were imposed around Jamia Masjid and the areas adjoining the grand mosque with contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF deployed in strength to maintain law order.
Despite restrictions, separate protest rallies were taken out by activists of Hurriyat Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to denounce killing of Rizwan Assad Bhat of Awantipora who died in police custody at Cargo camp here on Tuesday.
Killing of 29 year old youth, who was a teacher by profession, sparked off massive protests across the valley and condemnation from all mainstream political parties including NC, PDP, Congress, AIP, PC and others.
It is pertinent to mention that Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik had called for protests against custodial killing of Rizwan Assad.
All the entry points leading to Jamia Masjid were sealed with spools of razor wires and iron blockades to prevent public movement with security personal in full riot gear manning streets.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who heads his faction of Hurriyat (M) was placed under house arrest at his Nigeen residence here this morning. Octogenarian separatist leader and Chairman of Hurriyat (G) continued to be under house arrest at his uptown Hyderpora residence.
Authorities barred people from offering Friday prayers at grand mosque for the third time over the past one month.
Meanwhile, separate protest rallies were taken out by Hurriyat and JKLF activists here against custodial killing of Awantipora youth.
While JKLF activists took out a protest rally at Maisuma against what they termed brutal killing of Rizwan by men in uniform, Hurriyat protested at Hyderpora to denounce the killing.
The protesters said that killing of youth, torching and vandalising properties has become order of the day in Kashmir.
They said such attempts would not deter the resolve of people to take this movement for which thousands of people sacrificed their lives.