Srinagar: Barring historic Jamia Masjid and over a dozen mosques , the Friday prayers passed off peacefully in the Kashmir valley, where authorities had imposed restrictions in the down town and parts of civil lines as a precautionary measure to prevent Muharram processions.
Meanwhile, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq who was put under house arrest to prevent him from addressing Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in a tweet said “ Curbs curfew & HouseArrests continue,even on Aashura ! No Friday prayers allowed at many mosques in the city including JamaMasjid by the rulers. Even majlis-e-tableeg to pay tributes to ImamHussian(AS) and MartyrsOfKarbala which I was going to address,barred!”.
All the gate of Jamia masjid were closed since early this morning to prevent devotees from entering the worship place. No prayers were held there as large number of security forces and state police personnel had been deployed around the Masjid and in the market.
No prayers were also held in the mosques on the main road where restrictions were imposed by the authorities to prevent muharram processions.
However, Friday prayers were held at Hazratbal shrine, which houses the Holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad, on the bank of Dal Lake. Friday prayers were also held elsewhere in the valley.