Authorities on Friday barred Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani from offering Friday prayers in Masjid Iqra in Lal Chowk, a spokesman said.

According to the statement, the spokesman said that Geelani was stopped after he defied house arrest restrictions. “The police forces outside his residence did not allow him to venture out to march towards Masjid Iqra,” he said.

He said that large contingents of police and CRPF were deployed on main roads leading to the residence of Geelani and no one was allowed to move out of Hurriyat office.

Earlier, the amalgam on May 2 had announced that Geelani will offer Friday congregational prayers and added that resistance leadership had planned to stage a peaceful protest against civilian killings in Shopian.

Hurriyat said soon as Geelani moved towards Lal Chowk Srinagar to offer Friday prayers, he was prevented by a heavy contingent of police from doing so.

Lashing at authorities, Geelani said that “Delhi groomed authorities have unleashed a reign of terror against innocent civilians in state. Even innocent students are being mercilessly killed.”