Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 9: Police today arrested 13 accused persons involved in sloganeering inside the historic Jamia Masjid during the Friday congregational prayers on sedition charges and they are being booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
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“Yesterday afternoon, there were Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid wherein a huge gathering took place, around 20, 000 persons attended the prayers,” a police spokesman said.
Police said that after the culmination of the prayers, about a dozen persons started anti-national and provocative sloganeering for a while. This was joined by a couple of others as well, while most of the gathering remained aloof.
There was also an altercation between the persons indulging in sloganeering and the volunteers of intezamia committee of Jamia Masjid who tried to stop such sloganeering.
Police said that it created a situation of ruckus inside the mosque, leading to clashes between them.
Later, they were dispersed outside the mosque by volunteers. “Even after coming outside from one gate, more than a dozen among them tried to provoke others by sloganeering which failed and in 2-3 minutes they dispersed in hurry seeing police presence around,” police said.
A case in this regard was registered in Nowhatta PS under FIR number 16/2022 under sections 124A and 447 of IPC, police said, adding that during course of investigation, technical means were adapted to identify those who raised slogans and raids were conducted at different locations which led to arrest of two main instigators of the sloganeering – Basharat Nabi Bhat, son of Ghulam Nabi Bhat of Hawal, Nowhatta and Umar Manzoor Sheikh, son of Late Manzoor Sheikh of Bahuddin Saab, Nowhatta.
“Both were apprehended and formally arrested in the case. Eleven more accused were subsequently arrested in this case who were involved in the sloganeering inside the Jamia masjid and at the gate,” police said, adding that many more suspected persons are being examined and will be formally arrested as soon as their role clearly comes forth in this case.
“PSA dossiers of all these accused are being prepared for booking them under PSA act as well, in addition to case.
It also came out during initial investigation that the accused in furtherance of a well-planned conspiracy had received instructions from Pakistani handlers of militant outfits to disrupt Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid and create law and order situation by provoking the attendees. Thus, section 120B was also invoked in this case.”
A Police spokesman said that investigation in this case is undergoing at fast pace and some more arrests are likely.
Meanwhile, Srinagar Police informed all citizens that any attempt at disrupting peace will be viewed very seriously, strictest action under provisions of law will be taken against all those who get involved in such illegal activities.
“In addition to this, no attempt at using religious places for furthering anti-national and militant agenda will be tolerated at all. Lastly, Parents are also advised to keep a watch on company of their children, indulging in such activities may cause irreparable damage to career prospects,” police said.
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