Curfew imposed in IHK over Muharram processions, arrest mourners

SRINAGAR (92 News) – In Indian-held Jammu Kashmir (IHK), Indian police arrested dozens of mourners amidst violent action on Muharram processions and anti-India demonstrations in different areas of Srinagar. As per reports, the curfew has been imposed in the Kashmir valley over Muharram processions. Indian troops, police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in strength across Srinagar to stop the processions. Coils of razor-fitted wire were placed on the main roads to prevent vehicular movement. However, hundreds of people including members of Tehreek-e-Wahdat-e-Islami defying restrictions tried to march from Batamaloo towards Shaheed Gunj in Srinagar. Police intercepted the marchers by resorting to baton charge and teargas shelling. Dozens of mourners including Nisar Hussain Rathar, Syed Imtiaz Haider, Ali Muhammad Rathar, Syed Muzaffar Rizvi and Fayyaz Ahmad Butt were arrested. Schools and colleges were closed in Srinagar in view of processions. All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Gilani, while addressing APHC Advisory Council meeting in Srinagar, has said that the right to self-determination is the only democratic and peaceful option for a permanent resolution to the Kashmir dispute. He urged people to stay away from the election drama being staged by India to mislead the international community. In a statement, Chairman of Hurriyat forum Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the authorities are using insurance as a bait to entice people to contest the upcoming sham local bodies’ elections. Meanwhile, Kashmiri representative Barrister Abdul Majid Tramboo while addressing the 39th Session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva lashed out at Indian authorities for holding farcical local bodies’ elections in occupied Kashmir. He said that the ground situation was totally contrary to what is being portrayed to international community through such mock exercise.