Eid-ul-Fitr p𒐪rayers were disallowed once again this year at the historic Jamia Masjid in Jamm🌠u and Kashmir's Srinagar on Saturday.
Many people who had come to offer prayers at Kashmir's largest mosque, the Jamia Masjid, were left dejected after seeing the gates locked.
Eid-ul-Fitr p𒐪rayers were disallowed once again this year at the historic Jamia Masjid in Jamm🌠u and Kashmir's Srinagar on Saturday.
Authorities barred prayers at the r﷽egion's l🍬argest mosque in downtown Srinagar's Nowhatta area, the spot which has witnessed frequent clashes and political rallies in the past.
Many people who had come to offer pr꧅ayers at the region's largest mosque were left dejected after seeing the gates locked.
Some people termed the prohibition an "interference" in religious matters of the region, while others said it &q൲uot;exposes" the administration's claim that the situation has been peaceful in Kashmir p🌊ost Article 370 abrogation.
The security personnel at the gates tol﷽d p💫eople that prayers will not take place at the mosque.
"Is Eid prayer a threaౠt to peace?♛ I fail to understand," said an elderly man, identifying as Ghulam Hasan.
An official told Outlook that the decision to bar prayers at the historic mosque was taken after pro-Azadi sl💦oganeering took place yesterday at the mosque post congregational Friday prayers,🥀 which was also the last Friday of holy Ramadan.
The prayers were also barred at the mosque on the fourth Frid𒈔ay of the holy month of Ramadan.
Earlier, prayers were allowed atꦅ the mosque on the auspicious night of Shab-e-Qadr, when night-long prayers were held at the mosque.
Srinagar's Jamia Masjid has been continuously closed since 5 August 2019, when the region was stripped of its autonomy and made✱ꦚ a union territory.
Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been leading prayers at the mosque, is not allowed to conduct the prayers at the mosque anymore. The administration, however, claims that Mirwaiz is a "free man", something that was also reiterated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.