Hurriyat leader and Mirwaiz of Jammu and Kashmir, Umar Farooq, claimed on Friday that he was placed under house arrest ahead of delivering a sermon at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar.
In a statement shared on Twitter, Farooq said, “As I was about to leave for Jama Masjid for the Friday sermon and prayers, I have been verbally informed that I am under house arrest today and won’t be allowed to go to Jama Masjid. Is it related to the 32nd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition today, and the wave of Masjid and Shrine surveys that we raised our voice against? Anyone’s guess.”
The incident coincides with the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992, a day marked by the destruction of the centuries-old mosque in Ayodhya by a Hindutva mob led by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and allied groups.
Recently, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq raised concerns over surveys conducted at mosques and shrines, which have led to growing tensions in various regions. His comments suggest a potential link between his alleged house arrest and his criticism of these surveys.
Authorities have not released an official statement regarding his house arrest or its connection to the sensitive anniversary.
