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Muharrum procession foiled in Srinagar
MAJID NABI. Dated: 9/19/2018 11:52:29 PM
Restrictions in Srinagar parts, cops use force at several places
SRINAGAR, Sep 19: Police foiled Muharram procession and detained dozens of mourners who tried to take out 8th Muharram processions at different places in Srinagar city here Wednesday.
Even as the authorities had imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city, Shia mourners amid Islamic slogans took out a procession from Guru Bazar area in old city and when reached near Jehangir Chowk, police resorted to baton charge and detained dozens among them.
The restrictions under Section 144 CrPC were imposed by the authorities in parts of Srinagarincluding Shaheed Gunj, Batamaloo, Shergari, Kothibagh, Ram Munshi Bagh, Maisuma, and Kral Khud areas to thwart Muharram processions by Shia Muslims.
Step was taken to maintain law and order in the wake of Muharram processions being taken out by Shia mourners to commemorate martyrdom of Imaam Hussain (a.s) grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his seventy two companions in the battle of Karbala.
It may be in place to mention that authorities in the valley have not allowed the main Muharram mourning procession ever since the separatist armed struggle started here in the 1990s
Clad in black dresses, many mourners were detained at Maulana Azad Road this afternoon after the later tried to march towards Dalgate.
Police cane charged the marchers and bundled scores in already awaiting police vehicle and detained them at police station Kothibagh.
Although the situation remained by and large peaceful with no reports of violence from anywhere, normal life was thrown out of gear following stringent restrictions imposed by the authorities in old city and some civil lines areas.
Most of the routes leading to old city were sealed with spools of concertina wires and iron barricades with contingents of police and paramilitary troopers in riot gear manning streets throughout the day.
Situation in Civil Lines areas including city centre Lal Chowk, Batamallo, Maisuma was no different as additional deployment of police and paramilitary troopers who could be seen on roads with automatic weapons in their hands created sense of fear among masses.