Restrictions in Valley on 10th Muharram
Barricades placed at Lal Chowk; people gather in small groups in the interiors of the old city and Imambaras
Srinagar:restrictions were reimposed in parts of Kashmir on Tuesday, to prevent processions on the tenth day of Muslim month of Muharram.
Strict restrictions were in place in the city as security forces laid concertina wires and barricades to block roads and stop movement of people.
“I saw (concertina) wires on roads everywhere. Police and the CRPF stopped me at multiple places,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a resident who managed to travel from Lal Bazar to city centre Lal chowk.
Barricades were in place in city centre Lal Chowk and Maisuma area roads were covered with concertina wires. The main flyover from Budshah Chowk to the Civil Secretariat was also closed.
Curbs were also imposed in Old City particularly from Shiadominated areas upto parts of uptown in civil lines.
Roads leading to Old City were also blocked at various places by security forces. “I was stopped near a petrol pump at Munawar and was not allowed to enter downtown,” said another resident, Waseem Ahmad.
Deputy inspector general of police (DIG), central Kashmir, VK Birdi said, “Restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar and the situation remained peaceful.”
Superintendent of police, north Srinagar (Old City), Sajad Shah said the situation remained peaceful as restrictions were in place in Shia-dominated Zadibal. “No procession was taken out,” he said.
Locals said people gathered in small groups in the interiors away from the roads and in Imambaras. In Shia-dominated district of Budgam in central Kashmir, restrictions were imposed in the main town but small processions were allowed.
“Restrictions were in place in main town and there was deployment of security forces. The situation remained peaceful,” said superintendent of police, Budgam, Amod Nagpuri.
Locals said a procession was taken out in Budgam's Magam and people marched towards Ahmadpora. In north Kashmir’s Baramulla district a procession was taken out in Hanjivera Pattan.
“A procession of a few hundred people was asked to disperse which they did without any law and order situation,” said a police officer, manning police control room in Baramulla.