Srinagar: Friday congregational prayers were today allowed at the Jamia Masjid for the first time since unrest began in Kashmir in the aftermath of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s killing in an encounter with security forces in July. The Friday prayers were allowed at Jamia Masjid after 20 weeks.However, the attendance of devotees was thin as the people from adjoining localities only were not able to reach the grand mosque due to non-availability of public transport in view of the strike.The prayers were last offered at the mosque on July 8, the day Wani was killed, as the authorities apprehended law and order problems after the weekly prayers.No Eid prayers were offered at the grand mosque for the first time in nearly two centuries, as the last time it was closed was in 1821.However, with the improvement in the situation, the prayers were allowed today.Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who usually delivers sermon before the Friday prayers, was under house arrest and not allowed to visit the mosque.In the absence of Mirwaiz, Imam Moulana Ahmad Syed Naqshbandi delivered the Friday sermon and strongly condemned the dictatorial authorities for banning people from offering Friday prayers at the mosque.Immediately after the culmination of the prayers, a group of youth assembled outside and took out a march towards Rajouri Kadal but were intercepted by the security forces, leading to clashes, a police official said. (TNS)