Tuesday 12th May, 2026
Srinagar, Mar 8: (UNI) Friday prayers were not allowed for the second successive week in the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar, where restrictions have been imposed since this morning as a precautionary measure.
A police official said that restrictions under Section 144 CrPC were imposed in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of M R Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safa Kadal and Khanyar in the downtown and Maisuma in the civil lines as a precautionary measure to prevent any law and order problem.
All gates of historic Jamia Masjid in the downtown, stronghold of chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, remained closed since early this morning.
A large number of security forces and state police personnel remained 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.
However, prayers were offered in the Valley, barring in mosques on main roads in the areas where restrictions were imposed.
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 fearing trouble.
Reports of offering of Friday prayers were also received from other parts of the valley.