13 arrested for Raising”Anti-National Slogans” at Friday prayers in Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid

The Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday arrested 13 people, including two instigators, who had shouted pro-azadi slogans during Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid.

The police also alleged a Pakistani angle to the protests. “During the initial investigation, [we learnt that] instructions had come from Pakistani handlers of terror outfits to disrupt the Friday prayer and create a law and order situation,” Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Balwal said in a statement.

The mosque in Srinagar’s old city was opened for prayers only last month after remaining shut for almost two years.

After the sloganeering, the police registered a case of sedition and criminal trespass.

“After the prayers, about a dozen people shouted anti-national and provocative slogans for a while…Most of the crowd remained aloof. Volunteers of the managing committee tried to stop the sloganeering and hooliganism, leading to clashes,” Balwal said.

Two of the instigators were later arrested. They were identified as Basharat Nabi Bhat and Umar Manzoor. Eleven more people were subsequently arrested, he added.

Any attempt at disrupting peace will be viewed very seriously and the strictest action will be taken, the police said.