KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Mandatory Friday congregational prayers were once again banned in historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar. It was fourteenth consecutive week that the PDP-BJP coalition government did not allow faithful to offer the Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid in congregation.
Government has imposed restrictions in several police stations in Srinagar and huge deployment of police and CRPF men has been made across the summer capital and other parts of Valley in view of resistance leadership called march to Raj Bhawan.
“All the roads leading to Lal Chowk – residency Road side – have blocked with razor wires spread across the roads while police vans have been placed at major checkpoints in Srinagar,” eye witnesses said.
Since morning forces are not allowing anyone go towards historic Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar).
In its latest calendar issued on, the pro-freedom leaders have asked people to march towards Raj Bhawan to handover a letter, asking him to “vacate” Jammu & Kashmir ,further, people have been asked to offer mandatory Friday congregational prayers on Foreshore road. However, severe restrictions have been imposed to thwart any such march.
In Nowhatta, where the historic Jamia Masjid is located, residents said that they are not being allowed to move out of their homes.
It was on July 08 – when popular militant commander, Burhan Wani, was killed by forces in Bemdoora area of South Kashmir’s Islamabad district – that the mandatory congregational Friday prayers were held in Jamia Masjid last time. Since then, police and CRPF men seal all entries to Jamia Masjid on Friday.
