The authorities in Kashmir imposed curfew-like restrictions in summer capital Srinagar to prevent tazia procession from a traditional route even as thousands of mourners held processions in Shia populated pockets of the Valley.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (central Kashmir) Ghulam Hassan Bhat said that traditional tazia procession was not allowed due to law and order situation in Kashmir.
Prior to 1988, the traditional tazia procession was emanating from Abi Guzar pocket of Civil lines area and passing through the interiors of Srinagar city before culminating at Zadibal in the old city.
However, the authorities disallowed the procession in 1988 and continued the restrictions ever since. The eruption of militancy turned the authorities’ compulsion of banning the procession into a norm.
The authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in jurisdiction of five police station areas in old Srinagar and Maisuma in Civil lines area.
Bhat said ashoora processions in other areas of Srinagar and elsewhere in Valley were allowed. Thousands of women mourners took out a procession at Imambara Budgam in central Kashmir. Despite inclement weather, thousands of mourners took part in procession in Zadibal where J&K Minister Imran Raza Ansari led the prayers and delivered traditional speech.
Meanwhile, all prominent separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Shah and Nayeem Khan continued to be under house detention while JKlF chief Yasin Malik was held in preventive police custody.