Mirwaiz house arrested, no prayers in Jamia

Srinagar: Authorities on Friday again barred chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference from offering Friday prayers as police detained him in Rajouri Kadal here and shifted him to Nageen residence where he was kept under house arrest.

Meanwhile, due to the curfew imposed in Nowhatta, there were no prayers in Jamia and other major mosques today.

A spokesman of Hurriyat Conference (M) strongly condemned the restrictions imposed by the authorities to scuttle Muharaam processions and Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and other major mosques of the Old City.

The spokesman said following chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s announcement to offer Friday prayers at Jamia at all costs, the authorities during an overnight “crack down” on the Mirwaiz Manzil, Rajouri Kadal arrested 40 Awami Majlis Amal activists besides “forcibly” shifting the Mirwaiz to his Nageen residence.

The spokesman termed the government’s ‘dictatorial’ action as an act of political vendetta  against the Mirwaiz, saying leading Islamic scholars and clerics across the Valley vehemently deplored the  government action.