Clashes and protests continued in Kashmir Valley on Friday even as the authorities disallowed senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to pursue his challenge to hold Friday’s congregational midday prayers at Jamia Masjid in old Srinagar. Amid tight security arrangements, the authorities disallowed assembly of people at the central mosque located in the core of old Srinagar and the prayers were not held for the 15th consecutive Friday.
Mirwaiz, who is under house arrest at his Nigeen mansion in the outskirts of Srinagar attempted to march towards the Jamia Masjid where he delivers weekly
politico-religious sermon, but was detained by the police. The separatists had asked the people to break siege to offer the Friday prayers.
The authorities imposed curfew in six police station areas to prevent the massive gathering of people in the historic mosque. Source said that protest rallies were held at various places across the Valley after the culmination of Friday prayers.
The police and paramilitaries resorted to tear-smoke shelling when a large number of protesters attacked them with stones in Preng Kangan area of Ganderbal district.
Protests sparked in lari Kangan after police arrested a youngster for his alleged involvement in stone pelting. Reports of clashes also poured in from several pockets of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Sopore town and Palhalan village in Pattan area.
Normal life continued to remain hit in the Valley on the 112th consecutive day following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 that triggered spontaneous protests across the Valley.
The separatists are spearheading the protests through weekly calendars, which govern the movement of the people. The educational institutions and the public transport have been worst hit due to the shutdown.
A police spokesman commented that the situation remained under control throughout Kashmir. “In view of Jamia Masjid Chalo call given by some separatist
organisations restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure in some parts of Srinagar.
“After the Friday prayers some stone pelting incidents were reported from Srinagar, Pulwama, Kulgam and Sopore. At these places miscreants after Friday prayers assembled and pelted stones on Police and security force deployments. They were chased away. In Pulwama, miscreants lobbed a petrol bomb on police and security force deployment in Pirchoo area. However, no one was injured in this incident. Police has taken cognizance of the incident,” police said in a statement.