Authorities on Tuesday said that holding Eid prayers at historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar was “not possible under present circumstances”.
While Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid expressed ‘dismay’ over imposing of conditions by the authorities including undertaking for peaceful conduct of Eid prayers, the later said that it was “difficult to have peaceful conduct of Eid prayers at Jamia” as managing body of the grand mosque declined to propone prayers and hold same at 7 a.m.
“Anjum e Auqaaf Jamia Srinagar has failed to reach any consensus among its members on request of administration to schedule the prayers at 7:00 am on the day of Eid Ul Fitr to handle the situation efficiently in case of any Law & Order problems and to ensure public safety and security,” a senior police officer told GNS, adding, “There are many reliable inputs of disruption and clashes in Jamia masjid after namaz is over which forced administration to request Jamia authorities for preponing of prayers at 7 am.”
He said the Civil and Police Administration had met the Jamia committee requesting them to reschedule the timing which would have “enabled the law enforcement agencies to take care of safety and security of all people coming for Eid prayers more effectively.”
“The intezamia committee was urged to take a decision at theirown level regarding prayer timing. However, it has been learnt through social media and other reliable sources that committee could not draw concordance among its members regarding proposed timing of the Eid prayers,” he said, adding, “Further, the committee also refused to give any assurance/undertaking for peaceful conduct of Eid prayers by having enough volunteers in and around Jamia campus.”
Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid had announced that Eid prayers will be held at Eidgah grounds at 9.30 am. In case of inclement weather, the prayers were planned an Jamia masjid at per past practice.
“Pertinent to mention that there is umpteen evidence of episodes in the past erupting into law & order problems by miscreants compelling authorities to act in the interest of public safety and security,” he said, adding, “From Year 2016 to 2019, Eleven cases of violence/stone pelting on Fridays of month of Ramazan, that emanated from Jamia Masjid stand registered in PS Nowhatta. In these incidents hundreds of civilians and 27 Security forces personnel got injured.”
Similarly, he said, during the same time period, the blessed nights of Shab-e-Qadr witnessed violence in 2017 and 2019. “In 2017, in a violent law and order incident during Shab e Qadr, a DySP from security wing of JK Police who was off duty was lynched to death by the miscreants who came in guise of devotees, scores of civilians were also injured,” he said, adding, “Year 2019 also witnessed violence on Shab e Qadr. As per reports, more than 150 civilians were also injured during these incidents.”
Mores so, he said, in 2016, 2017 and 2018 during Eid prayers in Eidgah, violent law and order emanated resulting in injuries to 87, 92 and 141 civilians and 5, 9 and 5 security personnel respectively, while managing the emergent Law and order situation.
“Similarly, on the eve of Eid Ul Fitr, when prayers were held in Jamia Masjid Nowhatta in 2018 and 2019, both occasions witnessed violence by the miscreants, that resulted into injuries to around 50 civilians and many SF personnel,” he said, adding, “Many families have been devastated and still suffering due to these incidents of violence in Jamia Nowhatta caused by unscrupulous elements who in garb of prayers forward subversive agenda and cause violence.”
The Jamia Masjid has been opened post Covid pandemic for regular prayers which are being held smoothly, he said. However, given the “tumultuous past of violent incidents” during major congregations prayers in Jamia, he said, Law enforcement agencies fear threat to human life/devotees/ property. He said that controlling the “violent situation” many a times results in collateral damage to innocent lives.
He said that taking care of public safety and security was utmost priority of police and civil administration. “The lack of cooperation from the Management committee of Jamia puts lives of people at risk.
Consequently, it will be difficult to have peaceful conduct of Eid prayers at Jamia,” he said, adding, “As such holding prayers is not possible under present circumstances. General public is requested to leverage the option of offering Eid prayers in local mosques/shrines/designated places with full fervour and enthusiasm.”
Auqaf version
Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid said that police and civil authorities called them on Sunday to convey that Eid prayers will not be allowed at Eid Gah Srinagar and would only be allowed at Jama Masjid Srinagar if held before 7 Am ,and after conditions set later by the authorities, are met by the Auqaf in writing.
As per the precedent, Anjum Auqaf had earlier in the day announced that Eid prayers will be held at Eid gah at 9: 30 am and in case of inclement weather at Jama Masjid Srinagar at that time.
Auqaf members expressed great dismay that after disallowing muslims of the valley to pray at Jamia Masjid on Juma -tul- vida and Shab- e-Qadr, authorities are now not allowing muslims to offer Eid prayers in the open at Eid Gah , which is in tradition of the prophets sunnah. In this case , a reply was also received yesterday by the Anjuman to a letter they had sent to Waqf board regarding Eid prayer arrangements at Eid gah. The reply by the Wafq board conveyed that they could not facilitate prayer arrangements unless Authorities gave permission to conduct prayers at Eid gah .
Anjuman Auqaf said that Jama Masjid is a central place of congregational prayers in the valley and not some local masjid.
The purpose of such central places of worship is to provide a space and opportunity to muslims so that they can pray together in large numbers on Fridays and other religious occasions, and experience the physical and spiritual communion as an ummah.
To facilitate people from across the valley to reach these central places , prayers timings are decided accordingly and like in Dargah Hazratbal prayers timings by the waqf board has been set at 10.30 Am , Anjuman Auqaf had also announced prayers at 9:30 Am.
“It is strange that if congregational prayers can be allowed at other places at 10:30 Am , why not at Jama Masjid, why unreasonable conditions of giving this and that in writing , have to be applied here?”
“Sadly it seems that as in case of juma tul -vida and shab–e-Qadr authorities do not want Eid prayers to held even at Jama Masjid after disallowing them at Eid gah due to public fear and hence these hurdles.”
Anjuman Auqaf deeply regrets this approach of the authorities, when again Eid prayers are not being allowed at Eidgah as well as Jama Masjid , causing great hurt and sorrow to the muslims of J-K , as does the prolonged detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq since august 2019 , who would deliver the soul rendering Eid sermon prior to congregational Eid prayers .
