18,000 offer namaz in Srinagar on first Friday after reorganisation: Govt

SRINAGAR: Around forenoon on Friday, the first since the reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir , a frisson of uncertainty coursed down the VIP boulevards of Gupkar and Nehru Point till the downtown quarters of the iconic Hazratbal shrine.
Hijab-clad women had begun to outnumber the men as the Jumma namaz began at the shrine. “Namaz koi nahi rok sakta (Nobody can stop namaz),” Noor Jahan, a resident of Lal Bazaar, told TOI.
She skipped a question on the abrogation of Article 370, but said she was not stopped by security forces on her way to the shrine.“Woh agar rok bhi sakte hai, toh ruk nahi sakte (Even if they can stop us, we won't stop),” she said.

According to the J&K administration, more than 18,000 people in Srinagar, 7,500 in Budgam and 11,000 in Anantnag came out for namaz. Baramulla, Kulgam and Shopian reported gatherings of less than 4,000 at Friday prayers till late evening.
The administration had specified that namaz would be allowed in small groups at the mohalla mosques, but not in the main shrines like Jamia Masjid and Hazratbal that usually see large congregations. Those among the faithful who tried going to the prominent mosques at Nehru Place, Sonwar and Shivpora found access difficult.

“Cars and two-wheelers were not allowed near any shrine. People were allowed only on foot. So, this obviously restricted movement. I first came to drop my mother and brought my son next,” said Zakir, an employee of the sales tax department.
Between jetty points 6 and 8 on the Dal Lake, a group of men clutching stones were seen animatedly arguing with some CRPF personnel. The women they were escorting stood watching a few feet away.
A peaceful march by around 100 people was reported from Maulana Azad Road near Lal Chowk soon after namaz ended in the local mosques. The protesters dispersed soon after a police team arrived.
At the three mosques that TOI visited, many among the faithful admitted to being anxious about returning home safely without encountering stone-pelters along the way. There were also murmurs of protest over security forces not fully easing curbs under Section 144 of the CrPC.
“Usually, this place doesn’t even have a foot of vacant space on Fridays. Worshippers line up even on the roads. But today, due to restrictions and lack of transportation, there are so few,” said Raja Begam of the Nageen area.
Outside every mosque in the Valley, CRPF and J&K Police personnel watched over the congregation from terraces and balconies of residences. Women and men with despondent looks squatted and bowed in queues inside the segregated halls and on the sprawling lawns of most mosques.
On their way back, some stopped to stock up on vegetables or buy sheep for Eid-ul-Zuha on Monday. Bakarwals (sheep traders) from Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu sold livestock for Rs 250 a kg, which they said would have been at least Rs 350-400 had the situation been normal.
Hawkers selling their wares on boats or fresh fish and roasted corn by the roadside nevertheless had a rare opportunity to smile as people stopped by to do some purchasing after four days of standstill.
DGP Dilbagh Singh said, “Everything was by and large peaceful on the first Friday after abrogation of Article 370. Restrictions on movement will be eased with every passing day.”
(With inputs from Saleem Pandit)