For the second time, authorities sealed Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on Friday and placed the Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest, the managing body of the historic mosque said.

While there was no official word on these restrictions, sources said the Friday congregational prayers were disallowed at the Jamia masjid amid fears that pro-Palestine and anti-Israel protests may erupt in the old city.

“Police officials once again closed the gates of Jamia Masjid & informed the Auqaf not to open the gates as Friday prayers won’t be allowed today.

This is for the second consecutive Friday that prayers are being barred by the authorities,” the Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said.

It added that Mirwaiz who was allowed to offer Friday prayers and deliver Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid on September 22, after four years of house detention, also continues to be under house arrest since October 15.

Police and central forces were deployed in and around the historic masjid in strength to ensure peace in the old city and other sensitive places.

On last Friday, anti-Israel protest were held in central Kashmir’s Budgam and Kargil district of Ladakh.

(With UNI Inputs)