Protests, restrictions mark Friday in Valley
Friday prayers barred at Jamia Masjid
Srinagar, Apr 13: Restrictions were once again imposed in five police station areas of the city today as a “precautionary measure” to thwart any protests after Friday congregational prayers.
Restrictions remained in place in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Maharajgunj and Safakadal police station areas of the city as the separatists had urged people to hold protests after the Friday prayers.
Police said the curbs on the movement of the people in these areas were taken as a “precautionary measure to prevent any law and order situation”.
Separatists – Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik had called for “peaceful protests” after Friday prayers against the killing of civilians during an encounter in Kulgam district on Wednesday.
While Geelani and Mirwaiz continued to remain under house arrest, Malik remain lodged in Srinagar’s Central jail.
However, in some areas of Srinagar, groups of youth took to streets and pelted stones on security forces and the forces resorted to tear smoke shelling.
Protests were also reports from several areas of north and south Kashmir besides from Budgam.
Meanwhile, owing to restrictions in Nowhatta, the congregational Friday prayers could not be held at the historic Jamia Masjid in the area.
Hurriyat-M chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who delivers sermon every Friday at the mosque, took to Twitter, and wrote: “Curfew & restrictions imposed for second consecutive Friday in #ShehreKhas,barring Juma prayers at #JamaMasjid,huge deployment of armed forces,all gates of the historic Mosque locked down!We will not be allowed to pray at the mosque even on the auspicious occasion of #ShabeMiraj (Sic)!”
