13 held in Srinagar for raising ‘azadi’ slogans
Sedition charges slapped on them for sloganeering in and around Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers
SRINAGAR: Thirteen people were arrested on charges of sedition after they raised “azadi” slogans at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers, Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Saturday, adding that the accused could be booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
On Friday, protests broke out at the grand mosque, with some men allegedly shouting “azadi” (freedom) slogans after the first congregational prayer was held there in the month of Ramzan. Jamia Masjid was opened for prayers only last month after remaining shut for almost two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Yesterday afternoon, there were Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and a huge number of people had gathered. After the culmination of the prayers, about a dozen persons started anti-national and provocative sloganeering,” a police spokesperson said.
There was also an altercation between those raising the slogans and volunteers of the mosque’s managing committee, who tried to stop them.
“This created a ruckus inside the mosque, leading to clashes.
Later, the hooligans were dispersed by the volunteers,” the police spokesperson added.
A case was registered at the Nowhatta police station under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 124A (sedition) and 447 (criminal trespass).
Police conducted raids at various locations after gathering evidence and arrested the alleged main instigators of the incident — Basharat Nabi Bhat and Umar Manzoor Sheikh — both residents Nowhatta.
“Eleven (11) more accused were subsequently arrested… Dossiers of all the accused are being prepared to book them under the PSA,” the spokesperson said.
The police said that their initial investigation in the case revealed that the accused in furtherance of a well-planned conspiracy had “received instructions from Pakistani handlers of terror outfits to disrupt Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid and create law and order situation by provoking the attendees”. Srinagar police cautioned all citizens that any attempt to disrupt peace will be viewed very seriously and strictest action under provisions of law will be taken against all those who get involved in such illegal activities. Jamia Masjid is one of the biggest mosques in Kashmir and has been central to many important developments throughout the history of the Valley.
Hurriyat leader and chief priest of the mosque, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, used to deliver weekly sermons, but has been under house arrest since August 5, 2019, when the special status of J&K was revoked by the Centre.
Mehbooba condemns action on youths
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the action on the youths in the sloganeering case.
“Disturbing to see Kashmiri youth rounded up on pretext or another. People can be imprisoned but certainly not their ideas & ideologies. An idea one doesnt agree with can only be replaced by a better one. This is possible only through dialogue & reconciliation, not oppression,” she said in a tweet.