Friday prayers not allowed for 2nd week in Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid

Srinagar: Friday prayers were not allowed for the second successive week of holy month of Ramazan in Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar, where curfew has been imposed as a precautionary measure in view of protests and clashes, triggered by the death of Ansar Gazwatul Hind chief Zakir Musa in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama.
However, prayers were offered in other mosques in the Valley, barring in the worship places on main roads in the areas where curfew and restrictions were imposed.
Official sources told UNI that curfew has been imposed in the summer capital, Srinagar, as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in view of the death of Musa. “All roads leading to Jamia Masjid in the down town Srinagar have been closed to prevent any demonstration after Friday prayers,” they said.
A large number of security forces and state police personnel have been deployed outside the Masjid and adjoining areas to stop any movement on the roads. “There was also no ‘Azaan’ (call for prayers) in the historic Masjid today,” local residents said, alleging that nobody was being allowed to enter the area.
Last week, Friday prayers were not allowed in Jamia Masjid as all roads leading to the historic mosque were closed as a precautionary measure following a strike call given by separatists against ‘no let-up in killings during Ramazan’.
Friday prayers were offered at Hazratbal shrine, which houses the holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad, on the bank of Dal Lake though the number of devotees was again very less as compared to even normal days as people could not come from other parts of the valley due to curfew and restrictions.
Reports of offering of Friday prayers were also received from other parts of the valley.