Srinagar, 26-Nov; The authorities on Friday once again disallowed the congregational prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar while spontaneous shutdown was observed in the old city on 2nd consecutive day, after three militants were killed in a shoot-out with the police in the city on Wednesday.Eyewitnesses said that the prayers were not offered as authorities had locked the main gate of the mosque with armed forces personnel deployed in front of it.“Earlier, the pretext of pandemic was employed to prevent Muslims from offering Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid. It stands completely exposed today. It is extremely unfortunate and disdainful of the authorities to disallow Muslims of the Valley from praying at the central mosque,” said a female devotee.Meanwhile, a spontaneous shutdown was observed in parts of the old city and city centre lal chowk . Shops remained partially closed in the old city’s Habba kadal, Hawal, Khanyar, Bohri Kadal, Jamalatta, Nawakadal and around lal chowk including Abi guzar,Budshah chowk,Maisuma,Amira kadal and Hari singh high street areas. Security was also beefed up in these areas. However, the partially shutdown did not impact the movement of vehicles.Earlier, authorities snapped mobile internet services in parts of the city “as a precautionary measure” as the slain included TRF commander Mehran Shalla, a resident of the Jamalata area in Nawakadal here.The killings triggered immediate protests with several eyewitnesses claiming that the three were slain in a “one-sided shootout”. Some claimed that the trio were innocent civilians.Protests broke out in the old city against the killings, leading to clashes with the security forces. A large number of security personnel were deployed and they resorted to tear-gas shelling to quell the agitation.(CNS)
