Seven injured in Srinagar baton charge

SRINAGAR - Like ever year, authorities disallowed the main ashura procession and enforced tight security across the valley Monday as Jammu and Kashmir observed Muharram.

Abi-guzar locality in uptown Srinagar was surrounded by security forces to foil attempts by the Shia mourners to take out the main Muharram procession.Since 1990, when militancy began here, the state government has banned the ashura procession from Abi-guzar.

Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was made in the Abi-guzar and adjacent city centre Lal Chowk where roads had been blocked and barricaded using concertina wire.

Shops in the area remained shut due to heavy security deployments.

Groups of mourners, however, made attempts to take out Muharram processions in Lal Chowk but they were stopped and baton charged by the police when they insisted on going ahead, resulting in injuries to seven people. The administration, however, allowed processions in the old city where thousands of mourners joined them.

Some of the mourners were seen slashing themselves with knives while others were beating their chests and leather whips.

Tight security arrangements are in place in the summer capital and other Shia majority areas across Kas0hmir valley.