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Shias prevented from taking out Muharram procession

The Jammu and Kashmir police and paramilitary forces foiled repeated attempts by Shia mourners to take out tazia procession in violation of the prohibitory orders in force in the city on Muharram today.

Fifteen mourners were taken into custody for violating the prohibitory orders after the police failed to break up the processionists with teargas shells and a lathi-charge.

The ashooraprocession is taken out to mark the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, Hazrat Imam Hussain.

Official sources said the police and paramilitary forces were deployed in full strength in and around Abi Guzar, from where the procession usually starts.

Policemen were seen enforcing an undeclared curfew as they restricted the movement of civilians too.

Road blockades were set up from Regal Chowk to Amirakadal, sources said. Journalists residing in Lal Chowk also complained that they were forced to stay indoors by the police.

The mourners assembled at Jehangir Chowk, Budshah Chowk and Maisuma and tried to take out the procession. They, however, failed to reach their traditional venue as their plan was frustrated by the police.

The police used batons and fired teargas shells to disperse them, sources said, adding that as they re-grouped, 15 mourners were arrested.

The clash and the undeclared curfew disrupted normal life in the city. Shops and business establishments remained closed in many parts, the sources said.

Clashes between the police and Shia processionists were also reported from Batakadal in downtown Srinagar, but no one was said to be hurt.

The police and paramilitary forces were deployed in full strength in Shia-dominated areas of Srinagar, as some religious organisations had threatened to defy the restrictions imposed by the government and take out the ashoora procession.

UNI

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