Restrictions return to Srinagar ahead of Friday prayers, barricades spring up across city

Media has been barred from areas of Srinagar where mainstream politicians have been detained while Jama Masjid unlikely to hold Friday prayers.

Barricades manned by Paramilitary forces in Srinagar | ThePrint Photo by Praveen Jain

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration imposed restrictions across Srinagar ahead of Friday prayers, amid speculation of a “peoples march” to the United Nations Military Observer Group office in the city’s Sonwar area.

Although there has been no official word on the restrictions, barricades manned by personnel of the J&K police and paramilitary forces were put up across the city late Thursday.

Parents trying to get their children to Srinagar’s main children hospital, G.B. Pant Hospital, which is located in Sonwar, were also turned back resulting in commotions at the barricade.

“They are not allowing me to go to the hospital. They said I could walk, but it’s a long way and my child is unwell,” said a woman who was carrying her six-month-old son.

Strategically important locations and areas where the Valley’s mainstream politicians have been detained face even more stringent restrictions with security forces barring entry of media personnel.

Media personnel were also turned back from the important Dal Gate intersection that leads towards the United Nations office as well as the communication facilitation centre set up by the state government in view of the blackout that exists in the state since 4 August.

Security personnel outside UN office in Srinagar after Hurriyat’s call for “UN Chalo” | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Major mosques under the scanner

There are also restrictions around major mosques in the Valley while prayers in the historic Jama Masjid are likely to be disallowed Friday afternoon. The congregational prayers at the Jama Masjid have already been disallowed twice — last Friday and on Eid-ul-Adha.

The government had, however, eased traffic restrictions since Monday and even opened government offices, primary and middle schools. A “civilian curfew” though has existed all week, with people resuming normal life only in the evenings.

Calls for a march to the UN office grew louder since Thursday evening even though there hasn’t been a call to do so either by the separatists or by mainstream parties. Mysterious posters calling for Friday protests had, however, appeared in parts of the city but police did not confirm the veracity of the posters.