Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were disallowed once again this year at the historic Jamia Masjid in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Saturday.

Authorities barred prayers at the region's largest mosque in downtown Srinagar's Nowhatta area, the spot which has witnessed frequent clashes and political rallies in the past.

Many people who had come to offer prayers at the region's largest mosque were left dejected after seeing the gates locked.?

Some people termed the prohibition an "interference" in religious matters of the region, while others said it "exposes" the administration's claim that the situation has been peaceful in Kashmir post Article 370 abrogation.

The security personnel at the gates told people that prayers will not take place at the mosque.

"Is Eid prayer a threat to peace? I fail to understand," said an elderly man, identifying as Ghulam Hasan.

An official told Outlook that the decision to bar prayers at the historic mosque was taken after pro-Azadi sloganeering took place yesterday at the mosque post congregational Friday prayers, which was also the last Friday of holy Ramadan.

The prayers were also barred at the mosque on the fourth Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier, prayers were allowed at the mosque on the auspicious night of Shab-e-Qadr, when night-long prayers were held at the mosque.

Srinagar's Jamia Masjid has been continuously closed since 5 August 2019, when the region was stripped of its autonomy and made a union territory.

Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been leading prayers at the mosque, is not allowed to conduct the prayers at the mosque anymore. The administration, however, claims that Mirwaiz is a "free man", something that was also reiterated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
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