Friday prayers disallowed at Jamia Masjid, Dargah

Updated On! Sunday 05th of September 2010

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Friday prayers disallowed at Jamia Masjid, Dargah

Srinagar, Fri, 9 Jul 2010 : : Police did not allow people to offer Friday congregational prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in old city and Dargah Sharief Hazratbal on city outskirts.All the roads leading to Jamia Masjid were sealed. Policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers asked people to stay away from Masjid, locals told media men on Phone,

Troopers also did not allow people to assemble at Dargah Sharief for Friday prayers. “People who tried to move towards the Shrine were beaten to pulp,” locals said.

All the roads leading to Grand Mosque in the old city and Hazratbal shrine in the city outskirts were sealed off by the Indian paramilitary forces.
Hazratbal which houses the holy relic of Prophet of Islam (pbuh) is the holiest Muslim places of worship in Kashmir.
Residents at both the places said that any one who tried to venture out of his house for prayers were threatened by the forces and who insisted on visiting the holy places were beaten to pulp by the policemen and CRPF personnel.

Authorities in past have on numerous occasions banned prayers at Grand Mosque but it is for the first time people have not been allowed to assemble at Hazratbal shrine on a Friday.
Significantly 'Meraj Alam', a significant day in Muslim calendar falls on Saturday and Shab-e-Mera'j or the Night of Ascent tonight would usually draw hundreds of thousands of devotees from all across Kashmir to Hazratbal every year.