Mainstream leaders still caged, spontaneous shutdown across Kashmir, internet, train services still suspended in Valley
Srinagar: For the 11th consecutive Friday, the administration barred people from offering mandatory congregational prayers here at the historical Jamia Masjid, located in Old City area of Nowhatta amidst fresh curbs in the several Srinagar areas to prevent post-Friday prayers.
The authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas today to prevent post-Friday protests. Witnesses said that police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in sensitive areas of Srinagar since the wee hours of this morning, who had erected concertina wires on the roads, thus thwarting pedestrians as well as the vehicular movement.
Locals told the wire service –Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that amidst fresh curbs, the authorities yet again disallowed the mandatory Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid.
“All the four gates of Jamia Masjid remained locked for the 11th consecutive Friday,” witnesses said, adding that the authorities barred all the prayers at the grand Masjid since August 05, when the government repealed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (Article 370) and bifurcated the erstwhile State into two Union Territories.
Officials said that restrictions under 144 CrPC were imposed in some areas today to maintain law and order.
Pertinently, Jamia Masjid’s head cleric and Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continued to remain under house detention. Besides, Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani also remained under house detention.
Several other pro-freedom leaders including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah and others continued to remain lodged at different jails.
The Kashmir based mainstream politicians including three former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti continued to remain under detention since August 05, 2019.
Meanwhile, uncertainty across Kashmir continued for 75th straight day with all the shops and other business establishments remaining closed to protest against the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
The public transport remained off the roads while a vast number of private vehicles were seen plying across Kashmir.
Pertinently, the prepaid mobile services as well as the internet including broadband services continued to remain suspended across Kashmir. The postpaid mobile services were restored by the government on Monday noon after 70-day-long suspension.
Moreover, the train services from Baramulla-Banihal continued to remain suspended since August 05 as ‘security reason’. (KNO)
