Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar urges admin not to deploy forces around the grand mosque on Fridays

Srinagar: Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar on Saturday urged the administration not to deploy security forces outside the historic mosque on Fridays as it “created fear among the worshippers”.
In a statement issued here on Saturday , a spokesman of the Auqaf said the presence of forces in large numbers around the masjid creates an atmosphere of fear among the worshipers.
The presence of forces in large numbers around the masjid, it said, is “damaging the centrality and sanctity of the masjid which is the spiritual centre of lakhs of Kashmiris.”
“The deployment of government forces in huge numbers before the prayers also gives ample opportunity to certain vested interests to foment trouble around the mosque and to damage the sanctity and sacredness of the grand masjid,” said the spokesman.
He said that the Anjuman has time and again called on the administration to ensure no deployment of forces around Jamia Masjid on Fridays but the frequent pleas seems to be falling on the deaf ears.
He said that the prayers could be held peacefully at Jamia like other major shrines, mosques and Imambaras of the valley where no deployment is made.