Friday namaz took place at fewer locations in Gurgaon with worshippers avoiding spots where pujas were held, at a time Hindutva and residents’ groups have opposed Friday prayers in open spaces.

After a tripartite meeting between deputy commissioner Yash Garg with Muslim and Hindu representatives earlier this week, the administration had withdrawn consent to eight of the 37 sites where Friday prayers were offered in places where mosques are not available.

The 37 sites, which include three Muslim institutions, had been earmarked by the administration in 2018 after protests by Hindutva groups. Prior to this, Friday and Id prayers were offered at 106 open spaces in Gurgaon in addition to mosques, almost all of which are in the city’s older parts.

On Friday, Hindutva groups organised Govardhan Puja at three grounds where Jumma namaz takes place. Muslims withdrew from there.

At the largest such puja in Sector 12A, Vishwa Hindu Parishad joint general secretary Surendra Jain said: “The administration has asked us for a few weeks and said that it (namaz in open spaces) would be gradually decreased. But we don’t believe the assurance. If they do so, then it is good or we will take to the streets.”

Haryana, where Gurgaon is located, is ruled by the BJP. Union home minister Amit Shah launched his party’s Assembly poll campaign in Uttarakhand last week by attacking the Congress for allegedly allowing Friday prayers on a highway.

Gurgaon police have been providing protection to open-air Jumma namaz following disruptions by Hindutva groups and residents’ welfare associations since September 17. These groups had used loudspeakers and played Hindu devotional songs while the namaz took place.

A leader of the protests, Dinesh Bharti, was taken into preventive detention. However, the administration this week asked Muslim representatives at the meeting to keep off eight sites.

One Muslim representative, Altaf Ahmad, told The Telegraph on Friday: “There are three sites where Jumma namaz did not happen, Sector 12, Sector 47 and Sector 18. Rest, namaz happened peacefully although there was a lot of fear. Caution was exercised by the Muslims to not have any sort of confrontation with the vigilante groups.”

“At the three sites, Govardhan Puja was happening; hence we voluntarily stepped back, as advised by the police on the ground,” he added.

A police spokesman said: “Personnel were deployed at more than two dozen namaz sites and no law-and-order problem has been reported.”

Another representative at the talks, Haji Shahzad Khan of the Muslim Ekta Manch, said: “No namaz was conducted at the eight sites on the request of the administration, as well as Sectors 47 and 12A where protests take place. Namaz was peacefully conducted at the remaining sites.

“It is sad that despite us requesting our Hindu brothers not to conduct puja at Sector 12A today, it was done. However, we told them we are with you and I went at 3pm to contribute Rs 5,100 at the bhandara (community kitchen). But they refused it.

“By refusing our contribution, they have shown they don’t want brotherhood.”