Early Times Report
Srinagar, Sept 19: A Muharram procession turned violent in Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Wednesday and the Jammu and Kashmir Police had to resort to lathi charge and tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of mourners on the 8th day of Muharram. The visuals of the incident show a few security forces running after the mourners, who were part of a big procession.
Sources have told that several people have been detained. Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had earlier today imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in Srinagar's nine police station areas - Kothibagh, Kralkhud, Shaheedgunj, Maisuma, Karan Nagar, Batmaloo, Ram Munshibagh, Shergarhi and Nehru Park - to prevent the procession.
The restrictions were preventive in nature, imposed to maintain law and order. All schools and colleges were also closed today. However, mourners somehow managed to enter Lal Chowk.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police then had to use tear gas shells, baton charge the protesters to bring the situation under control. Later, a number of mourners were briefly detained.
The restrictions imposed by the authorities had thrown normal life out of gear in Srinagar. Besides educational institutions, shops and other business establishments in the affected areas remained shut. Huge traffic jams were witnessed at a number of places because of road barriers and blockades put by authorities. Since 1989, authorities have not permitted any 8th and 10th Muharram processions in Srinagar. |
