Monday 11th May, 2026
Srinagar, May 17: Friday prayers were not allowed in the first week of holy month of Ramazan in Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar as all roads leading to the historic mosque was closed as a precautionary measure to prevent any demonstration.
Official sources told UNI that all roads leading to Jamia Masjid in the down town Srinagar have been closed as a precautionary measure to prevent any demonstration on Friday, when separatists have called for a general strike against civilian and militant killings during Ramazan.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yaseen Malik, has called for a strike on Friday and peacefully protests after prayers against, what they call as ‘no let-up in killings during Ramazan’.
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.
UNI