Srinagar Jamia Masjid closed after clashes

The historic 624-year-old Jamia Masjid here has stopped prayers to clean the blood spilt on its floor during clashes on Friday afternoon, which left over 30 civilians and dozens of security personnel injured.

The Old City here observed a shutdown on Saturday in protest.

“Unnecessary presence of security forces on Friday outside the mosque was the cause of confrontation. Scores of protesters were hit in the eyes with pellets. The police fired pellets through the gaps in the closed doors of the mosque,” said Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Valley’s head priest who delivers sermons from the grand mosque’s pulpit.

Denying allegations of excessive use of force, the police said the clashes erupted when youth started waving anti-national flags and throwing stones after the prayers.

“Dozens of CRPF and police personnel were injured. Two police officers and one CRPF head constable were among the injured. The security forces showed utmost restraint, and minimal munition was used to disperse the miscreants to control the situation,” a police spokesman said.