Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in Srinagar to impose curfew-like restrictions to prevent assembly of Shia mourners’ attempt to march through the civil lines areas of the summer capital.
Thousands of commuters were stranded in traffic snarls for hours when the security personnel barricaded two busy thoroughfares without any prior notice.
The authorities have banned two traditional tazia (mourning) processions since 1988 — each emerging from Gurubazar and Abi Guzar areas — on eighth and 10th day of Muharram respectively citing the sensitivity of prevailing situation in Kashmir. However, morning processions emerge in other parts of Shia-dominated areas of the Valley, especially in old Srinagar and central district Budgam. Thousands of mourners take part in these processions.
Police said that restrictions were imposed to prevent assembly of more than four persons in groups but practically vehicular traffic was halted and pedestrians were not allowed to go beyond areas designated by razor wire intersections.
Authorities feared that separatists backing the Shia mourners would shout anti-India slogans or trigger sectarian clashes in the sensitive parts of old Srinagar. Traditionally, former Hurriyat Conference chairman Molvi Abbas Ansari, who is part of moderate faction of Hurriyat was leading the procession from Gurubazar on eighth day of Muharram, the first month of Islamic calendar. Muslims commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Imam Hussain during Muharram.
Police clashed with groups of protesters at Shaheedganj, Kaksarai and Karan Nagar. They used batons and fired teargas shells to chase away protesters. Sources said a videographer Hilal Ahmad Bhat was run over by a speeding police vehicle during the coverage of clashes. His condition is reported critical.