Except Abi Guzar, No Restrictions In City: SSP Srinagar
Srinagar- Ashura, marking the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) grandson, Imam Hussein (AS) and his faithful companions in the battle of Karbala 1400 years ago, will be observed across the Valley on Tuesday amid tight security and restrictions in Abi Guzar area of this capital city.
Restrictions will be imposed in the Abi Guzar area falling under police station Kothibagh while administration is also deploying police and central forces in strength to maintain law and order on the 10th of Muharram, officials said.
Speaking with Kashmir Observer, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal said that curbs will be imposed only near the Abi Guzar area in the uptown city.
“Except near Abi Guzar area, there will be no restrictions anywhere in Srinagar on Ashura,” Balwal said.
In Srinagar, the organizers said, the biggest Ashura procession will be taken out on Tuesday morning from Madin Sahab. Thousands of mourners from different parts of the city are expected to attend the Ashura procession that will conclude at the shrine of Mir Shams-uddin Araki in the evening after passing through various parts of Zadibal.
In Valley, the Shia Muslims used to take out processions from several parts of uptown Srinagar on 8th and 10th Muharram that culminated at Dalgate and the historic Zadibal Imambargah. However, after the onset of militancy, these two processions were banned in 1989 by the then Governor Jagmohan. Only small mourning rallies and processions are allowed in a few areas with sizable Shia populations.
Authorities maintain that the ban on traditional processions has been taken in the larger public interest and to foil attempts of numerous groups “to hijack the processions to advance their objectives”
Talking to Kashmir Observer President Anjuman Sharie Shiayan President, Aga Syed Hassan Al-Mosvi Al-Safvi said that in Budgam, two major processions will be taken out from Imambargah Mirgund to Imambargah Budgam and Dargah Bab-ul-Hawaij to Imambargah Hajipora.
“The biggest procession in Budgam will be taken out from Jamia Babul Ilm Mirgund at 9 am in the morning to Imambargah Budgam,” Aga Hassan said, adding that other Ashura processions will be taken out from Gazi Manzil to Yousefabad, Magam, Sikanderpora, Beerwah and Sonpah.
Pertinently, scores of mourners were detained on Sunday when they tried to defy the restrictions imposed to stop people from carrying out 8th Muharram processions in the civil lines.
Mourners in small groups appeared across civil lines stretching from Batmaloo to Jehangir Chowk and Dalgate areas of the city and tried to take out a procession subsequently pushing police to swing into action and detain the mourners.
Mourners In City Mark Tasua
Tasua, the ninth day of the lunar month of Muharram, which precedes Ashura, the day when Imam Hussain (AS), was martyred was observed on Monday across Kashmir with processions and public gatherings.
Thousands of people, dressed in black, took to the streets and took out processions from several areas of Srinagar including Shamswari, Basant Bagh and Mandibal in the old city.
In the afternoon, mourners took out a procession in Basant Bagh and Mandibal area of the city which was attended by thousands of people.
As part of the mourning ritual, Dal dwellers took out a traditional procession which commenced from Kanda Mohalla in the interiors of Dal Lake. The procession consisted of boats driven by a motorboat.
Mourners chanted Labbyk Ya Hussain slogans on the way to shore.
Later, the procession culminated at Imambara Hassanabad
Pertinently, Tasua comes a day before Ashura, which marks the day when Imam Hussain (A.S), along with 72 of his companions, was martyred in the battle against the second Umayyad caliph in the Iraqi region of Karbala, some 14 centuries ago.
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