Srinagar, Dec 17: Life in Srinagar came to a grinding halt as Government imposed a strict curfew in the areas falling under eight police stations to prevent people from taking out Ashura processions.
On the cold Friday morning, the authorities deployed hundreds of CRPF troopers and policemen, wearing riot gear and brandishing guns and bamboo sticks, in major and small lanes and by-lanes of Srinagar. The bunker vehicles were parked at major junctions while concertina wires were laid to stop the movement of people on the roads and city entry points.
The troopers enforced strict curfew and stopped people from come out of their homes.
The streets wore a deserted look and troops were witnessed stopping commuters and not allowing them to proceed. The curfew also led to a complete shutdown. Schools, shops, banks and other business establishments remained closed.
In city areas where curfew was not imposed, most of the people preferred to stay indoors as very thin traffic was seen plying on the roads.
The authorities imposed curfew in the areas falling under police stations M R Gung, Safakadal, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Maisuma, Kralkhud and Kothibagh to thwart Ashura processions. Authorities did not allow people to take out Ashura processions in the curfew bound parts of the city. Several religious organisations on Thursday had appealed people to join Muharram processions to be taken out from Lal Chowk and surrounding areas.
Ashura marks the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) grandson, Imam Hussein (AS), in the battle of Karbala.
Before the onset of militancy, the people of the city used to take out processions from Abi Guzar in Kothibagh and Guru Bazaar in Kralkhud police station areas which culminated at Dalgate to mark the eighth day of Muharram. However after 1990, the Muharram processions were banned since authorities feared that they would culminate into anti-India demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the government said Muharram processions were carried out in entire state. The official spokesman said Ashura processions were carried out in areas in Srinagar where curfew was not imposed.
The processions were also taken out at Zadibal and Shalimar in Srinagar, Khonmoh in Pulwama, Budgam and adjoining areas and Uri and Pattan in Baramulla and Sumbal in Bandipora district, he said.
The spokesman said traffic was diverted through alternative routes on Srinagar-Muzzafrabad highway to allow the smooth conduct of Muharram processions at several places.
Similarly, he said processions were also taken out from various areas of Jammu and Ladakh. In Kargil and surrounding areas large number of people joined the processions.
Similar reports of processions being taken out came from several areas of Poonch district. In Poonch town procession was taken out under the patronage of Anjman-e-Jaffria president Alhaj Rahat Hussain Nehvy Sahib.
Police spokesman said situation in the curfew-bound areas of Srinagar and elsewhere remained peaceful.