Muharram Processions Foiled, Many Detained In Srinagar.

Severe restrictions were imposed in eight Police Stations of Srinagar on Sunday to prevent congregations of Shia mourners on the eighth of Muharram.

 Several Shia mourners were detained when they tried to defy the restrictions imposed to stop people from carrying out Muharram processions.

Mourners in small groups gathered at Jehangir Chowk and Batmaloo areas of the city and tried to take out a procession. Police swung into action and detained the mourners.

Authorities have placed restrictions in several parts of Srinagar to prevent Muharram mourners from taking out processions on the 8th day of the Islamic calendar on Sunday.

Official sources said that police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers in Lal Chowk and adjoining areas including Maisuma, MA Road and Dalgate as well in downtown areas including Bota Kadal, Alamgari Bazar and Hawal. The security establishment has placed coils of concertina wires and stationed mobile bunkers on roads to prevent any movement of people.

The authorities had announced that no Muharram procession will be allowed on 8th Muharram through the city Centre.

The announcement by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar followed a detailed meeting involving all the “field magistrates and police officers” as well as taking into consideration “reports by intelligence agencies.”

“Law & order and Security concern is the top most priority of the Government of the Jammu and Kashmir keeping in view the larger public interest and safety of its citizens,” the deputy commissioner, who is also District Magistrate, had said in the order, adding, “In view of the facts and circumstances read in conjunction with the reports of Intelligence Agencies thereof, more particularly the security concerns of the District Srinagar with respect to the Muharram, the processions therein cannot be allowed on the Guru bazar toward Buchwara (Dalgate) and Abi-Guzar towards Zadibal routes respectively, keeping in mind the public interest, law & order and security.”

The Mourners continued to gather at several locations around Lal Chowk when the report was filed.