Srinagar, March 2
At least five persons were injured and over 50 others rounded up when the police prevented mourners to take out Muharram procession in the central Lal Chowk area here today. The Ashoora on the occasion of 10th day of the month of Muharram in Islamic calendar, was observed in different parts of the valley today.
Those held by the police included JKLF vice-chairman Javed Ahmad Mir and several other leaders of Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian. The police lobbed teargas shells near Clock Tower in the area. More than 24 others were held by the police while attempting to take out Muharram processions from the nearby Abi Guzar locality. The preventive measure were taken by the police for the prohibitory orders in force in the civil lines area of the city. However, no restrictions were imposed on such processions in other parts of the city and outside.
A large number of Shia Muslims participated in special prayers and took out processions in Zadibal, Hawal, Hassanabad and other areas of the city. Similar reports came in from Budgam, Pattan and other parts of the valley.
The separatist APHC led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has expressed concern over the use of force by the police in preventing religious activities in various parts of the city today. Its spokesman claimed that senior Shia leaders Agha Syed Al- Mousvi, Agha Syed Muzaffar Rizvi, Ghulam Mohammad Nagoo, Syed Imtiaz Hussain and Moulvi Mohammad Yaseen Mir and dozens of others were held by the police and were lodged in Kothi Bagh and Maisuma police
stations.
