Srinagar, December 4, 2011: Scores of mourners were injured and more than 200 including Hurriyet leaders, Masroor Abass and Nisar Ahmad Rather were arrested when Indian police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel resorted to brute force and lobbed teargas shells to prevent them from taking out 8th Muharram processions In Sriangar. The authorities had imposed restrictions in the city to prevent the Muharram procession on Sunday December 4, 2011.
Police and paramilitary personnel who were deployed in strength had blocked the exit and entrance points of Lal Chowk, Maisuma, Karanagar, Jehangir Chowk ,Budshah Chowk, Residency Road, Moulana Azad Road, Koker Bazar, with concertina wires and armored vehicles to prevent the mourners from taking out the procession on Sunday.
However, defying so-called curfew and strict restrictions hundreds of youth led by APHC leader and Ittehadul Muslimeen, president Masroor Abbas took out a Muharram procession from Shaheed Gunj in Srinagar. The procession was intercepted by police and paramilitary personnel near Jehangir Chowk and Budhsah Chowk. The cops lobbed dozens of tear smoke shells and resorted to brute force to quell the mourners. Dozens of mourners including Masroor Abass were arrested and lodged them in Kothibagh, Maisuma, Shaheed Gunj and Rajbagh police stations.
Earlier police also arrested Hurriyat leader, Nisar Hussain Rather along with dozens of supporters when he tried to lead a Muharram procession from Jehangir Chowk.
The authorities has banned Muharram processions in Kashmir Valley and mourners are not allowed to take out processions on 8th and 10th Muharram.
Traditionally, 8th Muharram procession used to start from Shaheed Gunj and culminate at Heydira Hall Dalgate while 10th Muharram procession would start from Abi Guzar area in Lal Chowk and end at Zadibal Imam Bara in old city.
Senior APHC leaders Maulana Abbas Ansari and Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi in their separate statements while terming police action as frustration of the authorities said that the whole city was turned into military garrison to prevent the free movement of the people.
JKLF acting chairman, Bashir Ahmad Butt said it is strange that the administration facilitates Amarnath Yatra but restricts peaceful Muharram processions.
Senior vice chairman of JKLF (R), Javed Ahmad Mir also condemned the police action said that the government of India and its puppet regime in occupied Kashmir has adopted Israeli policy to deal with innocent Kashmiris, who are not even allowed to take out religious processions.
General Secretary, Khadimul Ambiya Blood Bank, Shabir Hussain said the peaceful mourners were mercilessly beaten. “Many mourners were injured and have been hospitalized,” he said.
Reports of taking out of processions were also received from Bemina and Zadibal. However, police foiled the processions by using baton and tear gas. In Old City reports said that police and CRPF troopers were deployed in lanes and by lanes and roads were closed with razor wire and armored vehicles. The residents in Saraf Kadal and many other localities tried to take out processions but police and CRPF stopped them. Reports of Muharram processions were also reported from Batamaloo and Magarmal Bagh.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed on Sunday by shopkeepers in Nowhatta and its adjacent areas in Srinagar City against an attack on some of the shopkeepers On Saturday. Reports said that some miscreants attacked and injured a shopkeeper Tariq Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Salam of Ranger Hamam Nowhatta on Saturday.
The shopkeepers downed their shutters in protest and demanded stern action against the culprits. President Central Traders and Manufacturers Association, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat while condemning the incident demanded strict action against the culprits. Sources