Srinagar, Aug 20: Prayers resumed in the Hazratbal shrine here on Friday after the six-day long stalemate ended, with Jammu and Kashmir government accepting the people’s demands including the shifting of police barracks from the shrine complex.
Hundreds of devotees offered the congregational Asr prayers inside the Kashmir’s biggest shrine. The congregational Friday prayers were, however, offered in the lawns of the shrine as a mark of protest against yesterday’s police brutality on the residents.
The resumption of prayers came after the government agreed to shift the police barracks from the shrine complex in a phased manner, transfer the armed police company involved in beating of the devotees past Saturday and minimize the number of policemen manning the shrine.
While the armed company was transferred Thursday night, two police barracks, alongside the VIP Road Hazratbal, were dismantled today, much to the respite of the residents.
“We offered prayers after the Muslim Waqf Board authorities and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Meraj Ahmad Kakroo assured that our demands would be met,” said the residents, who offered the congregational five-time prayers on road for the past six days.
On Friday, people offered the congregational afternoon prayers in the front lawns of the shrine. Following this, the witnesses said, the senior citizens of Hazratbal, including the Head Priest of the Shrine, informed the public that the government has agreed to remove the police barracks gradually, reduce concentration of troops inside the shrine and ensure that policemen don’t harass the devotees.
After this it was decided that prayers would resume in the shrine but only after it is washed properly.
The decision was accepted by one and all, leading to cleaning of the shrine in presence of the Muslim Waqf Board vice-chairman, Prof MY Qadri, and the Shrine Head Priest, Bashir Ahmad Farooqui. The desecration of the shrine by police was condemned by one and all. The residents said the government must not let down the residents and ensure that it removes all the barracks in a phased manner.
Scores of people participated in the shrine cleaning. While the devotees went inside, they condemned yesterday’s police action on the peaceful protesters. “The policemen who opened fire on the devotees, ransacked houses and vehicles must be severely punished. They don’t deserve to be posted at religious places which are too dear to people,” said Ashiq, a resident.
Pertinently, the Hazratbal crisis erupted past Saturday when armed police, manning the shrine, opened fire on the peaceful devotees who were shouting pro-freedom slogans. The police action had injured at least 30 persons.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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