Amid restrictions, Muharam processions taken out in Valley
Clashes reported in some areas with curbs imposed on several routes
5 Dariya News
Srinagar 11-Oct-2016
Over a dozen of Shiite mourners were injured on Tuesday after forces tried to foil the scheduled Muharram procession in Baba Demb area of old city.
Witnesses said that the Shiite mourners took out procession from Shamaswari Imam Baada Kadal and were on way to Sheelteng area of Habba Kadal.
They said that forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the mourners, resulting in injuries to several mourners, adding that the injured were provided first aid in nearby medical shops. Witnesses told KNS that a large number of mourners succeeded in giving slip to police and reaching at Sheelteng Habba Kadal.
Meanwhile, witnesses said that forces blocked all the roads leading towards Gow Kadal where another Muharram procession was proposed to be held in afternoon.They added that heavy contingent of forces were deployed on roads. The movement of pedestrians was restricted.“They had also erected concertina wires on roads to foil the proposed Muharram procession in Gow Kadal area,” witnesses said.They said that as soon as the mourners tried to pass through the way, forces used tear smoke shells to disperse them during which scores of mourners’ sustained injuries.
However, local sources told KNS that the Shia-Sunni coordination committee approached police officials and assured them that procession would be peaceful, after which they were allowed to take out procession.“The authorities should allow the procession as it is religious practice. Nobody has right to interfere in anyone’s religious affairs. We don’t understand why the authorities tried to stop us from carrying out a procession,” Aadil Ahmad, a mourner told KNS.Pertinently, on Monday, on the occasion of 8th Muharram, a group of Shiite mourners tried to take out a procession in Batamaloo, Dalgate and Chattabal areas of Srinagar, who too were disperse off by the forces. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Central Kashmir Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told KNS that the situation across the Srinagar remained peaceful.However, he said that the curfew remained in force today in parts of Srinagar to foil the Muharram procession in Srinagar while mild forces were used at a few places as precautionary measures. (KNS)