Srinagar: The historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar witnessed congregational Friday prayers for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 more than four months ago.
The masjid was closed for prayers following the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status on August 5.
Though there were no restrictions around the masjid but government forces were deployed in the area. At Rajouri Kadal, forces personnel laid razor wire across the road leading towards Gowjwara and only pedestrians were
allowed to move.
The Valley’s chief priest Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who would offer Friday sermon in the mosque was not allowed to offer prayers there.
Nearly 1,000 people from across the valley offered Namaz at the mosque, the officials said, adding that a tight vigil was maintained to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
After the prayers, a peaceful protest was taken out against the closure of the mosque for 19 weeks, the officials said.
A few people assembled outside the main building of the 14th century mosque and took out the protest march shouting slogans against the government. The protestors later dispersed peacefully, they said.
After eruption of militancy in the valley, this was for the first time in recent memory that no congregational prayers were offered at the mosque for 19 consecutive Fridays because of curbs by authorities.
In 2016, the mosque was locked for about four months and no Friday congregational prayers were offered there for 16 consecutive Fridays, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. But Fajar (morning)
and Isha (night) prayers were allowed at the mosque.

Reader correspondent