Srinagar: Moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq was Friday allowed to offer Friday prayers in the historic Jamia Masjid in the down town after about two months.
However, this was for the third successive week that Friday prayers were offered in Jamia Masjid since June 23, when for the first time in the history after Independence that prayers on Jumma-Tul-Vida, last Friday of Holy month of Ramadan, were disallowed by imposing restrictions.
Official sources said Friday prayers were offered in all shrines and mosques across the Kashmir Valley, including Jamia Masjid.
Security forces and state police personnel remained deployed outside the Jamia Market. However, there was no security force personnel in the main Jamia Market Friday and people were allowed to offer prayers in the Masjid.
A moderate Hurriyat Conference spokesperson said that Mirwaiz was released from house arrest after 57 days Friday. ”Mirwiaz immediately left for Jamia Masjid and addressed a Friday congregation,” he said.
Mirwaiz’s release came three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that no “Goli or Gaali” but Gala Lanaga will help to solve the Kashmir problems. Mirwaiz had welcomed the statement of Prime Minister.
Reports of offering Friday prayers were also received from other parts of the Valley, where clashes erupted between security forces and protestors in the afternoon at some places.
