No prayers were allowed in the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar's old city for the 13th consecutive Friday. Police said restrictions were imposed to maintain law and order due to apprehensions of violent protests after the congregational prayers.
"Restrictions have been imposed in five police station areas in the old city and some parts of Soura police station for maintaining law and order," a police official said.
Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta locality in Srinagar falls within the jurisdiction of these five police stations.
Security personnel were deployed outside the Jamia Masjid and in other parts of the old city to thwart any protests. Nowhatta locality, where the mosque is situated, has been the epicentre of protests, mostly after Friday prayers.
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The assembly at the mosque holds significance as Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who also holds the position of 'Mirwaiz', delivers sermons there every Friday. Mirwaiz, an Urdu word, translates into 'chief cleric'. However, Mirwaiz Farooq has been put under house arrest since August 5.
Violent protests erupted across the valley on Tuesday when a group of European Parliamentarians unofficially visited Kashmir to assess the ground situation.
According to reports, protests also erupted on October 31st, a day when the erstwhile state was officially split into two Union Territories. Unknown persons also set ablaze two private vehicles belonging to BJP workers in Kulgam district in south Kashmir
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However, the police officials told PTI the situation across the Valley so far has been peaceful.
The Valley has witnessed a spate in violence for the past few weeks. At least 11 non-Kashmiri labourers and traders have been shot dead by suspected militants. There have been multiple grenade attacks in several parts of Valley that has left more than two dozen people injured, including six CRPF personnel in Srinagar.
The Kashmir valley reels under a self-imposed shutdown after the government eased restrictions in most of the areas. The shops remain mostly shut, except for a few hours during mornings or evenings. Public transport has not been restored since August 5 when the centre abrogated undivided J&K's special status.
The landline telephony and postpaid mobile services have been restored but the Internet continues to remain suspended.
Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist leaders have been taken into preventive custody, while mainstream politicians including three former chief ministers -- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah -- have been either detained or placed under house arrest.
