Put under house arrest, prevented from offering congregational prayers for third consecutive Friday: Umar Farooq

Srinagar, Dec 20 (PTI) Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday claimed that he was put under house arrest and prevented from offering congregational prayers at the Jama Masjid for the third consecutive week.

Mirwaiz, who is the chief cleric of Kashmir, alleged that he was barred from offering prayers at the Jama Masjid in the city’s Nowhatta locality.

There was no word from the police on his allegation.

“Again prevented from going to #JamaMasjid for third consecutive Friday. Despite the bone chilling cold thousands of faithful-the elderly, women, physically challenged, children, people from all over the valley gather, waiting expectantly with a lot of affection and devotion to listen to the word of God at the Grand Mosque,” Mirwaiz said in a post on X.

He said that such actions bring “disappointment” for the people.

“What hurt and disappointment it brings to them all when those in power assert brute force and detain me, totally impervious and heartless to the grief they cause to them, to me and to the Muslims of the valley,” Mirwaiz said.