30 injured in police lathi-charge on
moharrum procession, 50 detained
Yasir Saeed
SRINAGAR, Jan 18: Police today resorted to lathi-charge and injured at least 30 of Moharrum mourners and detained 50 in the heart of Srinagar city, when they tried to take out processions on the 8th day of Moharrum mourning.
Despite imposition of restrictions by the state government on the main Moharrum processions in the Lal Chowk area, a large number of Shia Muslims tried to take out Moharrum procession from Lal chowk to Dalgate, the police immediately swung into action and detained around 50 mourners.
The trouble started at Lal Chowk, when a large number of Shia Muslims tried to march towards Dalgate Imam Bada, police personnel, already deployed in good numbers in the area blocked their way and resorted to lathi-charge, injuring at least 30.
After few hours, another group of Shia mourners assembled near Exchange Road and started marching towards Dalgate. Carrying banners and raising religious slogans, the mourners were detained by the police personal deployed there. They were shouting slogans against the "Indian democracy" and alleged that the police action amounted to interference by the government in religious affairs.
Senior Shia leader and former chairman of APHC Maulvi Abbas Ansari, who has been placed under house arrest since last evening, addressed a press conference at his residence. He said that the government decision not allowing Muharram processions is a direct attack on the religious sentiments of Muslims in the state. He said that these restrictions have been imposed despite the assurance by the divisional administration and senior police officials that Moharrum procession would be permitted in the Srinagar.
He said, "if the state government is allowing mainstream political parties to hold public rallies in Srinagar and other parts of the state, why the common people are being prevented from taking part in the Moharrum processions." These processions are religious activities and using excessive force against the mourners is a direct interference of the government in religious affairs, Abbas said.
The Shia leader in the evening said that police used heavy lathi-charge on the Shia mourners and injuring at least 30, which included his secretary Masroor Abbas Ansari.
It is pertinent to mention here that state government has not allowed Moharrum processions since 1989 in the Abi Guzar area in Srinagar city, fearing that they may turn into pro-freedom demonstrations.
A senior police official said that all the detainees would be released late in the evening or tomorrow.