Historic Jamia Masjid in Old Srinagar’s Nowhatta has been a hub of confrontation between youth and forces with youth turning up and clash with forces in the area. Bilal Bahadur this Friday roved his camera to capture the street rage
Hurriyat (m) chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday protested against the use of tear and pepper gas around Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
“At the very time of Friday prayers police and paramilitary forces resorted to heavy teargas shelling and fired pepper gas canisters inside Jamia Masjid,” Mirwaiz said this evening after her addressed Friday congregation.
“The sanctity of this important centre of Muslims has been violated by the forces action,” he alleged.
Mirwaiz condemned the “merciless” beating of the shopkeepers in Jamia Market, Nowhatta, Gojwara, Saraf Kadal, Rajouri Kadal and adjoining areas.
The traders’ federation have called for “Srinagar Bandh” on Saturday to protest the forces “excesses”.
“The use of teargas, pepper gas and pellet gun is being deliberately used to create an atmosphere of fear and terror against the devotees who come for offering Nimaz and against the civilian population of the area,” Mirwaiz added.
“Under a planned conspiracy forces in large numbers are deployed around Jamia Majid on Fridays to terrorize the whole atmosphere with the intention to scare away the devotees from coming to offer Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid,” Mirwaiz said.
He appealed people to “remain vigilant of the nefarious designs of anti-Islam and anti-movement forces and foil their designs by remaining united and steadfast to the case of movement”.