Curbs imposed in parts of Valley to prevent Muharram processions

Restrictions on movement, assembly of people imposed in Budgam, Baramulla and parts of Srinagar districts

Srinagar: authorities on Friday imposed restrictions in parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, to prevent people from taking out Muharram processions, officials said.

On Thursday night, police stated closing roads leading to Lal Chowk by placing barbed wires and barricades. Restrictions were also imposed in Batamaloo, Karan Nagar, Dalgate and Rainawari areas. Shops and business establishments in other parts of the city are functioning as usual.

Officials said restrictions on the movement and assembly of people under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC) have been imposed in Budgam and Baramulla districts and parts of Srinagar district.

In Srinagar, the curbs have been imposed in Shaheedgunj, M A Road, Ram Munshi Bagh, Maisuma and partially in Batamaloo area, the officials said.

A local, Javid Ahmad of Nowpora, said he was stopped at several places on way to work.“policemen asked several questions and did not allow movement towards areas where restrictions had been imposed.

Besides, police and CRPF personnel, there were bunker vehicles on the roads. The two foot bridges on Jehlum were also closed,” he said. Traditionally a procession would be taken out from Guru Bazar to Dalgate area of the city on the eighth Muharram before militancy erupted in the Valley. In the 1990s, authorities banned the processions, as authorities maintain that the religious gatherings have been used for propagating separatist politics. This year, the procession was disallowed on account of Covid-19. However, restrictions were eased in the evening.in the past, Muharram processions in Batmaloo, Jahangir Chowk, Abi Guzar and Dalgate areas have been dispersed using tear gas. Sometimes people have also been put into preventive custody.

Policemen did not allow movement towards areas where restrictions had been imposed. Besides police and CRPF, there were bunker vehicles on roads. The two foot bridges on Jehlum were also closed JAVID AHMAD , Nowpora resident

WASEEM ANDRABI/ HT Police detaining a man during a Muharram procession in Srinagar on Friday. Shiite Muslims are observing the holy month of Muharram, the climax of which is the Ashura festival commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Iraqi city of Karbala in the seventh century.