Restrictions imposed in Srinagar downtown to prevent protests
Friday prayers barred at Jamia Masjid again; Mirwaiz condemns
Srinagar, Oct 19: Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of the downtown Srinagar Friday to prevent a separatist-called protest.
Prohibitory orders were imposed in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, M.R.Gunj, Safa Kadal and Maisuma police station areas where heavy deployments of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was made.
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) had called for protests after the congregational Friday prayers and also asked the preachers at the mosques to highlight the excesses committed by the forces during their sermons.
All higher secondary schools and colleges remained shut to prevent student protests. Classes at the Kashmir University were also suspended for the day.
Authorities also disallowed congregational weekly prayers at the Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid as strict restrictions remained in force in Nowhatta area where the grand mosque is situated.
Police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed in strength around the mosque. They had erected barricades to restrict the movement of people in the area.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat-M chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq took to Twitter to express his anger at the move.
“2nd consecutive Juma &15th of the year when Friday prayers barred at #JamaMasjid.Strict curfew imposed,people made hostages in their own homes in #ShahreKhas. No peaceful expression of protest against atrocities &injustices allowed,No law in the land except the law of #StateMight,” he tweeted.
