Srinagar- Authorities have hinted at not allowing the traditional 8th Muharram procession in this capital city, bringing an end to uncertainty that prevailed after rounds of parleys with leaders of Shia community, who were seeking an end to 34-year-old ban.
Earlier on Tuesday Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri had said that the final call on 8th Muharram procession from Guru Bazar to Dalgate in Srinagar will be taken once the heads of Shia organisations are able to determine the exact number of mourners.
A senior police official, wishing not to be named, however told Kashmir Observer on Tuesday evening that the UT government has decided to disallow 8th Muharram procession as the leaders of Shia community could not confirm the exact number of mourners expected to take part in the procession.
“It was unanimously decided that no such procession having potential to incite sectarian clashes will be allowed,” the officer said.
He said the decision was taken after thorough deliberations between the higher-ups of civil and police administrations in this direction.
“The administration will not take any chances as far as law and order in Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir is concerned,” the officer added.
Earlier in the day, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said that the government was serious on lifting decades old restrictions on two major Muharram processions in Srinagar.
He however said that the “ball was in the court of the Shia community”, who have been asked to provide details about the number of people participating in the procession.
Talking to the media persons in Srinagar Bidhuri said that a series of meetings were held regarding lifting of restrictions on Muharram processions on two routes in Srinagar, which have been imposed decades back as “there might have been some issues behind it”.
“We are serious about lifting the restrictions and the ball at present is in the court of the Shia community, who have been asked to provide details over how many people will be participating in the procession,” Bhiduri said.
“Those making hue and cry now have been part of successive governments and were unable to bring it out for 34 years. How do you expect us now to ensure fool proof arrangements without knowing the size of the procession,” Bidhuri told reporters.
He said that a total of 89 Muharram processions are taken out in Srinagar during 40 days of mourning period and it will be totally meaningless to claim that restrictions are still in place.
According to several Shia representatives who attended a series of meetings including the one chaired by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday, authorities were initially willing to allow the 8th Muharram procession but wanted only several hundred participants in it.
“First they said the number of mourners should be limited to 150 and then set the maximum limit at four thousand”, Showkat Ali Wani, who represented Anjuman-e-Sharie led by Agha Syed Hadi, told Kashmir Observer.
Another condition placed before the Shia representatives was that the procession should start at 7 AM and conclude by 11 AM. Both these conditions had put organisers in a quandary, sources said.
The 8th Muharram procession used to come out from Guru Bazar quarter of the city and culminate at Imambargah Dalgate in the evening before it was banned in 1989.
Lakhs of people would participate in the procession which would pass through major thoroughfares of the capital including Budshah Bridge and Maulana Azad Road.
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