Amid restrictions to foil Muharram procession, police detain Shiite mourners
Even as the district administration imposed restrictions in Srinagar parts, the authorities on Friday foiled the Muharram procession that was scheduled to start from Guru Bazar and would have culminated at Dalgate area of Srinagar City.
Reports said that restrictions under section 144 CrPC were imposed by the authorities in Srinagar areas falling under the jurisdiction of eight Police stations to thwart Muharram procession that was scheduled to be carried out by the Shiite Muslims here.
The restriction bound areas in Srinagar witnessed a huge presence of Police and paramilitary troopers since the wee hours of the morning.
The Srinagar areas which remained under restrictions today included Shaheedgunj, KaranNagar, Maisuma, Kothibagh, Shergadhi, Kralkhud, Batmaloo and Ram Bagh.
“The pedestrian as well as the vehicular movement was blocked by the forces by erecting concertina wires on the roads,” witnesses informed.
Officials had said that the restrictions will remain in force in Srinagar parts as precautionary measure in view of today’s Muharram procession.
The Muharram procession on 8th Muharram from Guru Bazaar to Dalgate area via Lal Chowk continued to remain ‘banned’ since the year 1990.
Meanwhile, police today foiled the attempt of Shiite Muslims to carry out a procession from Batamaloo area here and detained scores of mourners.
The procession was scheduled to start from Guru Bazar but in view of the restrictions imposed by the district administration, the mourners wearing black clothes or badges appeared outside the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) headquarter at Batamaloo.
Amid slogans in favour of Karabal martyrs, the mourners tried to march towards Dalgate.
However, Police already deployed in the areas swung into action and detained scores of Shiite mourners.
Later in the afternoon, the Muharram procession was carried out at Zadibal area in which thousands of Shiite mourners participated.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Range, Munir Ahmad Khan as per the local news gathering agency said that the situation remained normal throughout the day.
The news gathering agency also quoted him as saying that the mourners detained in the day will be released in the evening.
Pertinently, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, had on Wednesday issued a statement denying that the administrations has imposed any restrictions on Muharram processions. However, the claims fell flat owing to the strict restrictions that were imposed on Friday.
KV Correspondent
