Massive Protests erupted in Hajin area in Bandipora district against the civilian killings in Kashmir after Friday prayers.
A peaceful protest march was taken out from Jamia Masjid Hajin towards the main Chowk. People from adjoining areas also joined the rally shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. The protest is going on.
Clashes between protesters and government forces erupted in Bandipora and Kaloosa in north Kashmir after Friday prayers, reports said. Local sources said that a massive rally was held at Bandipora which was tear gassed by government forces resulting in the clashes.
Same kind of rally was held at Kaloosa which met the same fate at the hands of government forces. However, peaceful rallies were held at Papechan, Saderkote, Ajas and Naidkhai areas of the district.
People held pro-freedom rallies in several parts of north Kashmir after Friday prayers against civilian killings in the ongoing uprising.
The government forces used teargas shells to break up the protests triggering clashes in Palhalan, Pattan, Hanjiwara and Tappar.
A mass Friday congregation is planned in the Eidgah of North Kashmir’s Palhallan town today.
Local sources said that the senior citizens of the area had announced a few days back that people of Palhallan and its adjoining areas will offer mandatory Friday congregational prayers today in the Eidgah at Palhallan.
“Scores of youths – volunteers – are preparing for the mass congregation,” a local said, “however, some four police vans appeared in the town this morning directing people to go inside their respective homes as curfew was imposed.”
The local said that the volunteers were cleaning the Eidgah and raising banners with pro-freedom slogans inscribed on them.
One of the police van had a loudspeaker fixed at its top, the local said, “people were told to stay home.”
The sources, however, said, “locals showed defiance and counter announcements were made and people came out on roads.”
They said that people from Goshbugh, Yetipora, Wussan, Aglar, Palpora, Check and Ghat are supposed to attend the Friday prayers today.
“The forces fired tear gas shells,” they said, “and stone pelting started.”
The locals said that forces rushed through the area and left the Palhallan town from another route.
“Intense clashes erupted near Markazi Jamia Masjid while forces were pleaded not fire shells inside Mohallas as children get affected,” they said. “Azaadi taraanay are being played.”
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (m) chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was arrested when he marched towards Eidgah on Friday.
A statement issued by Hurriyat Conference (m) said that in accordance with the joint resistance program of the ‘Eidgah Chalo’ today, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained outside his Nigeen residence as soon as he tried to march towards ‘Eidgah.
Earlier, Syed Ali Geelani too was arrested and lodged at Humhama Police Station when police arrested him.
He too marched towards Eidgah but was topped and detained. Reports also said that Masroor Abbas Ansari was arrested by police from his residence at Nawa Kadal before Friday prayers. He had tried to lead march towards Eidgah.
Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani was arrested by police and taken to Humhama Police Station when he took out a march towards Eidgah. However, scores of people took out a rally soon after Friday prayers ended.
“Geelani sahab was arrested by police around 1:15 PM,” Hurriyat sources said. Notably, the united resistance leadership had asked people to march towards Eidgah in Old Srinagar and offer congregational prayers there. Authorities, however, sealed all the routes leading towards Eidgah and strict curfew was imposed.
“Strong pro-freedom protests are going on in Hyderpora area,” sources said, “the protests are peaceful.”
The sources said that people tried to march towards By-Pass. “But the roads have been blocked and there is huge deployment of forces and the protest rally returned.”
The sources said that while it is raining the pro-freedom and anti-India sloganeering is going.
Prayers not allowed in central mosques for seventh straight Friday
Authorities on Friday did not allow congregational prayers in central mosques of the valley for seventh straight week. Reports said that government forces had cordoned off all the central mosques including historical Jamia masjid, Srinagar.
Police sources said that measure was taken to foil separatist’s Eidgah march. As per reports congregational prayers were not also allowed in Jamia masjid Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam. Hurriyat sources said that after the Sikh rule on the state, it is for the first time that central mosques remained shut for such a long period of time.
