A complete shutdown is being observed in Downtown Srinagar on Saturday to protest the use of force on protesters in Nowhatta area yesterday.
At least 50 people, including women worshippers, were injured after Friday prayers yesterday after the police and paramilitary forces fired tear gas and pellets to break up a protest. Two police officers were also injured in the clashes.
The clashes erupted soon after congregational prayers, and turned more intense after forces allegedly fired pellets inside the grand mosque, leaving many dripping with blood and staining its floor.
Some youth who were trying to leave the mosque were further angered at seeing the floor of the central mosque splattered with fresh blood, adding to the commotion.
All shops and other business establishments remained closed in the area following a shutdown call issued by the Jamia market traders’ federation against “desecration” of the grand mosque.
Meanwhile, traders held a protest outside the historic mosque against what they called as police high-handedness.
Earlier, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq visited the SMHS hospital to enquire about the health of the injured.
Amidst complete shutdown in down town and many areas of Srinagar to strongly protest the barbarity unleashed by police and forces on namazis & desecration of revered #JamaMasjid yesterday,visited Jama masjid & SMHS hospital.Deeply saddened to see the injured writhing in pain with pic.twitter.com/jmi1Udyvb6
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) May 26, 2018
most having pellet wounds in their eyes! How cruel and heartless are the agents of rulers that they asked to fire pellets thru gaps in the closed doors of the mosque! Devilish! pic.twitter.com/iyZWWbszKu
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) May 26, 2018