Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was today released from house arrest and allowed to offer congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid here in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir after 20 weeks.
"The curbs on the Mirwaiz were lifted today and he was allowed to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid," a police officer said.
It was after 20 weeks that the Mirwaiz offered prayers at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta here.
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The moderate Hurriyat chairman was put under house arrest immediately after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8.
The Mirwaiz was later shifted to Cheshmashahi sub-jail on August 27, from where he was released on October 24.
He was also allowed to visit hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani's Hyderpora residence a few times, but was not allowed to offer prayers at Jamia Masjid as the authorities apprehended law and order problems.
However, as the situation improved, the curbs on his movement were lifted, the officer said.
Last Friday, authorities lifted the siege from Jamia Masjid and allowed the congregational prayers after 19 consecutive Fridays.
After today's prayers, the Mirwaiz led a protest rally from Nowhatta to Rajouri Kadal area of the city where he addressed the people.
After the rally culminated, there were clashes between youths and security forces, the officer said.
Police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the protesters.
The officer said no one was injured during the clashes.
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Meanwhile, addressing a gathering at Rajouri Kadal, Mirwaiz said time has come when a transition from short term agitation to long term initiatives, programmes and sustainable modes of protest has to be made.
"We have to understand that we have a long struggle ahead of us. It is now time to prepare ourselves for the next phase. We have to survive and sustain ourselves to be able to fight this cunning and brutal oppression. The joint resistance leadership is currently working at making this transition," he said.
Welcoming the statement of the US President-elect, Donald Trump for offering to play a role in resolving all outstanding issues in South Asia including Kashmir, Mirwaiz said "international mediation in resolving the dispute had become imperative as India continued to refuse to engage with Pakistan and people of Kashmir for resolving the dispute.
