Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 25: After 19 weeks, Friday congregational prayers were offered at historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar today while shutdown continued across Kashmir amid clashes during which a police officer was injured and two auto rickshaws were torched.
No Friday prayers were allowed since July 9 after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as authorities feared protests and continuously imposed restrictions and curfew to prevent people from offering Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid.
However today, the authorities did not restrict the people from offering Friday prayers. Thousands of people offered the prayers. However, Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who delivers the sermon at the Masjid, was kept under house arrest.
Soon after prayers were over, a huge procession was taken out from the Masjid and the protesters shouted slogans against the Government.
As the protest march reached Rajouri Kadal, police and CRPF fired teargas and pepper gas to disperse the protesters. Police action triggered retaliation from the protesters who responded by pelting stones.
Amid stone-pelting clashes, SHO MR Gunj, Aftab Ahmad, was injured. Intermittent clashes in the area continued till late in the evening and they spread to nearby Nawakadal area.
Two auto rickshaws were torched in old city area of Srinagar since last night. An auto rickshaw bearing registration number JK0H 7472 and belonging to Sartaj Khan was torched last night at Sazgaripora area of old city. Another brand new auto rickshaw was torched this morning at Nowhatta.
In the meantime, shutdown was observed across Kashmir Valley. Shops, commercial establishments, petrol pumps and educational institutes were closed in Srinagar. Police and paramilitary CRPF were deployment in sensitive areas of the city while clashes broke out at Batamaloo and Pamposh Colony Parimpora after Friday prayers.
Clashes after Friday prayers broke out at Baramulla, Sopore, Pattan, Palhallan, Magam, Tahab, Kakapora and Newa in South, North and Central Kashmir respectively. Police fired teargas, pepper gas and charged batons on protests. A police official said the situation in all these areas was later brought under control.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel