Srinagar, March 27 -- Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday said the authorities have disallowed night long prayers, one of the most auspicious nights of the Islamic calendar, on Shab-e-Qadr in Jamia Masjid here.

"Conveyed to ( Anjuman) Auqaf by authorities, that on the highly revered night of LailaTul Qadr when Muslims around the world supplicate and seek Allah's forgiveness throughout the holy and blessed night, central #JamaMasjid Srinagar will be closed to the people and no shab or prayers will be allowed there," Kashmir's chief cleric Miriwaz Umar Farooq said in a post on X.

Expressing strong dismay, Mirwaiz Umar termed the decision "regrettable and condemnable."

"It is extremely regrettable and condemnable that the...