Shias’ procession disallowed, curfew still on in Srinagar

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 10

Curfew continued in downtown Srinagar for the third consecutive day today following the death of a 13-year-old boy and was extended to more areas of the city to prevent a Shia procession from Shaheed Gunj to Dalgate on the eighth day of Muharram here today.

Life continued to remain paralysed due to the restrictions and shutdown called by the separatists to protest the civilian killings in the unrest that entered the 94th day today.

The curfew was extended to the Batamaloo, Karan Nagar, Shaheed Gunj, Maisuma, Kralkhud and Ram Munshi Bagh areas to prevent Shias from taking out processions from Guru Bazar to Dalgate on the eighth day of Muharram. The commercial hub Lal Chowk was sealed off to prevent any Shia procession. However, they took out processions in various Shia-dominated localities here and elsewhere in the Valley. 

As precautionary measures, the authorities have been imposing restrictions to stop Shias from taking out the main Ashoora procession on the 10th of Muharram over the past 25 years.

Srinagar areas under the Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, MR Gunj and Safakadal police stations remained under curfew for the third consecutive day today following the death of Junaid Ahmad (13), in the Eidgah area.