No namaz in Jamia' Omar, Geelani still under house arrest

Srinagar, Nov 28 (UNI) No Friday prayers were offered in the Jamia Masjid in the Sher-e-Khas while chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference (HC) and other separatist leaders remained under house arrest.

Official sources said, due to undeclared curfew in the city, no prayers were held in the Masjid. This is for the third time during this month that it remained closed on Friday.

Thousands of people, including women, from different parts of the valley offer prayers in the mosque every Friday where moderate HC chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq had been addressing the congregation.

A resident of the area told UNI over phone that they were not allowed to offer prayers in the Jamia mosque by the security forces.

Omar is kept under house arrest as authorities have apprehension that he will lead anti-poll campaign in the valley.

He was also not allowed to offer prayers in the mosque, HC sources said.

They said Omar was not allowed to leave his house.

Similarly breakaway HC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani is also under house arrest since he returned here on Tuesday from Delhi where he had gone for treatment.

Several other separatist leaders are also under house arrest while 100 other senior and second rank leaders have been taken into custody during the past three months.

UNI BAS ASM ARB PK HT1755