Restrictions in Valley lead to clashes, separatists detained

Parts of Kashmir witnessed clashes between stone-pelting mobs and police as strict restrictions were imposed in view of Muharram and the fourth day ceremony of the trucker Zahid who died in Udhampur attack, on Thursday.

Authorities scuttled plans of separatist leaders to visit Batengoo village in Anantnag to hold condolence meetings for Zahid by putting under house arrest or detaining them, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani of hardline Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of moderate Hurriyat, Shabir Shah of Democratic Freedom Party and Yasin Malik of JKLF.

Attempts to take out Muharram processions in various parts of Kashmir, mainly Srinagar, were also thwarted, resulting in clashes.

Authorities had imposed strict restrictions on the movement of people in various parts of Srinagar and the roads leading to Zahid’s Batengoo village as they apprehended law and order problem in view of the proposed public meeting in Anantnag and attempts by Shia mourners to take out a procession through traditional route in Srinagar to mark Muharram.

Geelani-led Hurriyat had planned to organise a condolence meet at Batengoo and had appealed to people to attend it to mark the fourth day ceremony of Zahid. Concertina wires were laid at various city routes in and around Lal Chowk and all routes leading to Anantnag, blocking the passage of vehicles. Lal Chowk and surrounding areas were put off limits for people to prevent the Shia community from taking out the Muharram procession. The police did not allow any vehicle to enter Lal Chowk as a preventive measure.

The authorities had imposed restrictions in areas falling under police station Maisuma, Shaheedgunj, Karan Nagar, Batamaloo, Shergarhi and Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar.

The traditional Muharram procession used to pass through these areas but have been banned since eruption of militancy in 1990 as authorities maintain that the religious gathering has been used for propagating separatist politics.

Groups of Shia mourners made repeated attempts to take out Muharram procession through the traditional route but were chased away by police who used teargas shells and batons. Dozens of mourners were also taken into custody. 

A group of Shia mourners first emerged at Habbakadal and indulged in stone pelting but were chased away by police, the officials said. Hours later, a larger group appeared at Shuthrashahi and started marching towards Dalgate. However, the procession was stopped by police leading to clashes between the two sides.