JOIN USNormal life was paralyzed in Srinagar city on Sunday as authorities imposed severe restrictions and used force to prevent people from taking out Muharram processions to mark the eighth day of the 10-day mourning period.
A police official told Deccan Herald that prohibitory orders under Section 144 were imposed in the areas falling under Shaheed Gunj, Batamaloo, Shergarhi, Karan Nagar, Maisuma, Ram Munshi Bagh, Kothi Bagh, Kralkhud and Parimpora police stations of the city to maintain law and order.
Shops and other business establishment including ‘Sunday Market’ remained closed. Reports said since morning police and paramilitary RPF personnel prevented the people from coming out in nine police station areas of the city.
Security forces had blocked all the entry points leading to the city center of Lal Chowk and civilian movement was stopped in areas of Dalgate, Maisuma and Shaheed Gunj from where the annual Muharram procession was scheduled to pass.
Police had laid concertina wires at Amira Kadal, TRC Crossing, Dalgate, Karanagar, Jahangir Chowk, Budshah Chowk and Footbridge to prevent the civilian movement.
However, reports said, the mourners, defied the restrictions and took out processions from some areas in old city.
Valley peaceful
Inspector General Police Kashmir Range Abdul Gani Mir said that situation remained peaceful throughout the Valley.
“Restrictions were imposed in few police stations and it was completely normal,” he said.
The month of Muharram marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet (SAW) of Islam.
Hussain was martyred 1435 years ago with his family members in Iraq’s Karbala town.
Sunday was the eighth day of Muharram, when Muslims hold religious processions from the start of the month leading up to the 10th day, called Ashura, when Hussein (AS) was martyred.
Pertinently, the Ashura procession used to start from Guru Bazar and Shaheed Gunj areas of the Srinagar and pass through Maulana Azad Road and Residency Road, Dalgate to end at Alamgari Bazar, Zadibal.
However, Valley is witnessing a ban on Muharram processions since the eruption of armed rebellion in early nineties.