Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 13: Police today foiled an attempt by the Shia mourners to take out a Moharram procession in Srinagar by detaining over 100 of them and putting curfew like restrictions in the city during which at least two dozen mourners and policemen were injured in clashes.
Curfew like restrictions were imposed in most parts of civil lines area of Srinagar city since morning to prevent Shia mourners from taking out Moharram procession from Shaheedgunj to Dalgate through city centre M A Road in Srinagar city.
Authorities issued strict probhibitory orders under Section 144 in areas falling under Kothibagh, Maisuma, Kralkhud and Shaheedgunj police stations of the city to prevent Shia mourners from taking out a procession.
Despite restrictions, scores of people tried to take out the processions at Shaheedgunj and Karan Nagar areas of Srinagar city. However, their attempt was foiled by police and CRPF by firing tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge.
Around two dozen mourners and 5 policemen were injured in clashes that took place after police tried to stop groups of Shia mourners from taking out processions. Over 100 mourners who tried to defy restrictions were detained by police. They were lodged in different police stations of the city.
Clashes started in the afternoon, when a group of youth from Shaheedgunj locality, defied the restrictions and tried to take out a procession towards Dalgate. When the youth reached near Jehangir Chowk flyover, they were stopped by a large contingent of police and CRPF.
The mourners showed stiff resistance and tried to proceed towards Lal Chowk. Police used batons and fired dozens of smoke shells to disperse them. Most of these youth were detained by police.
A similar Moharram procession was taken out from the nearby Karan Nagar area towards Lal Chowk. Police deployed in full strength fired smoke shells to disperse the mourners.
The mourners in retaliation pelted stones and bricks at police. Over two dozen police and 5 policemen were injured in the clashes. However, after stiff resistance, police managed to control the situation.
A video journalist Hilal Ahmad Bhat of Asia News International (ANI) was injured, when a speedy police vehicle hit him and he was shifted to hospital in critical condition. Bhat’s leg got fractured and he was operated upon at Bone and Joints Hospital Barzulla.
Normal life remained crippled in Srinagar due to restrictions imposed by authorities. All roads leading to the city Centre Lal Chowk were blocked with concertina wire and iron blockades.
Additional personnel of police and CRPF deployed at sensitive locations including Lal Chowk, Jahangir Chowk, Maisuma, Kothibagh, Kralkhud, M R Gunj, Haba Kadal, Safa Kadal, Nowhatta, Ram Munshi Bagh, Dalgate and Khanyar areas to prevent the Moharram procession.
Shops and business establishments remained closed while traffic was off the roads. Armoured and bunker vehicles were parked at all entry points to Lal Chowk.
The Moharram procession would traditionally start from Guru Bazar and Shaheedgunj areas of the Srinagar’s downtown and pass through Maulana Azad Road and Residency Road to end at Dalgate. However, since 1990, authorities have disallowed Moharram processions in uptown areas while smaller congregations in localities of downtown Srinagar and in the outskirts are allowed.
Schools and other educational institutions, courts and business establishments in most parts of the city remained closed due to restrictions.
Meanwhile, senior Hurriyat Conference (M) leader Moulana Abbas Ansari was placed under house arrest today to prevent him from leading the Moharram procession.
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