Historic Jamia masjid closed again in Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 22: The historic Jamia Masjid in the downtown, Srinagar, was closed yet again as a precautionary measure to prevent any protests on Monday, when separatists have called for a general strike against the Kulgam killings.

However, there are no restrictions in any part of the city today, police said.

All gates of Jamia Masjid, stronghold of chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, are locked since this morning.

Large number of security forces and state police personnel have been deployed in the Jamia market and outside the worship place to prevent people from entering there. People trying to enter the Masjid were being told to go back by the security forces since early this morning. No prayers were offered this morning, the locals said.

However, the main road near the Masjid was open though there was no traffic movement due to strike.

No Friday prayers could be offered during the past two weeks due to restrictions. The Mirwaiz in a tweet has claimed that this year no Friday prayers were allowed in the Masjid for 15 weeks.

Security forces have closed one way of Nallahmar road at several places with barbed wire, including at Rajouri Kadal and Kawdara in the down town. People were being directed to take alternative road in these areas.

Business and other activities remained paralysed in the entire down town and outskirts and traffic was off the roads. Educational institutions, offices and banks also remained closed.

The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a general strike today which was supported by several others, including a Kashmiri pandit organization, against the Kulgam killings that took place on Sunday. Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed in an encounter by security forces at village Laroo in Kulgam on Sunday. However, immediately after the encounter was over, large number of people gathered there when a blast took place leaving six dead and scores injured.