Srinagar has restrictions in place to preserve law and order: Police

At order to prevent Shia mourners' gatherings on the eighth of Muharram in eight Srinagar Police Stations on Sunday, severe restrictions were put in place.

According to police, "Unlike previous year, no case was registered since the overall situation remained entirely peaceful," and they apologised for the difficulty they had given the public.

On Saturday, the authorities made the decision to prohibit Muharram processions in and around Srinagar. In order to prevent Shia congregations, restrictions were put in place in and around Lal Chowk with concertina wires and barricades at various points.

On the 8th of Muharram, Shia mourners used to organise processions that ended at Dalgate in the neighbourhoods surrounding Lal Chowk.

The first prohibition on Muharram processions was enacted in 1989.

However, after Budgam, all of Srinagar's Shia-majority neighbourhoods, including Zadibal and Hassanabad, were also permitted to hold massive Muharram processions.

Due to the limitations, the Sunday Market in the busy business district of Lal Chowk was closed all day.

Restrictions were put in place within the purview of the Ram Munshi Bagh, Kothibagh, Maisuma, Kralkud, Shaeed Gunj, Shergardi, Batamaloo, Khanyar, and Karan Nagar Police Stations in order to stop the movement of mourners.

According to officials, groups of mourners attempted to form processions around Jehangir Chowk and were moving toward Lal Chowk in the city centre when they were halted.

Shia mourning once travelled the traditional Muharram procession routes from Guru Bazaar to Buchwara and Abi Guzar to Zadibal. However, authorities made the decision to forbid these precessions in light of the current state of law and order and public safety. On Saturday, the District Magistrate of Srinagar issued a formal order noting a number of prior violent occurrences.

Whereas the undersigned organised a thorough meeting with all of the Field Magistrates, Police officers, and leaders of the Shia community in which they were informed about the routes permitted and forbidden for the Muharram procession. The J&K government prioritises law and order and security in order to protect its residents' safety as well as the interests of the general public. The processions cannot be allowed on the Guru Bazaar to Buchwara and Abi Guzar to Zadibal routes, the order stated, keeping in mind the public interest, law and order, and security. This is based on the facts and circumstances as well as the reports of intelligence agencies thereon, more specifically the security concerns of the district Srinagar regarding Muharram.

As evidenced by past incidents and cases, and upon analysis of reports and data from various security agencies about incidents that took place during the Muharram, it is obvious that in addition to a breach in peace and law and order, there have also been sectarian clashes that have threatened the maintenance of law and order, damaged public property, and injured civilians and members of the security forces.

The authorities also turned off mobile internet access in a number of Srinagar neighbourhoods, including Lal Chowk in the city's centre, which is governed by Police Station Kothi Bagh.

However, normal operations for the emergency services were permitted.

To avert any unexpected incident, several troops were stationed at various areas.

In areas where limitations were put in place, stores and other commercial enterprises were closed, public transportation was suspended, and mobile internet services were also interrupted in some areas of the city.

In order to prevent issues with law and order, the Srinagar Administration had already issued an order prohibiting Muharram processions.

According to the order's text, the District Magistrate of Srinagar today determined that processions linked to Muharram-ul-Haram 1444 (Hijri) will not be permitted on Guru Bazar towards Buchwara and Abi Guzar towards Zadibal routes, respectively, due to concerns about public safety and law and order.

It is important to note that the High Court requested the competent authorities to make a decision about the petitioners' representation as soon as possible, preferably within three days, in the writ petition(C) No 7/2022, Aga Syed Mujtaba Abass V/S UT of J&K and others.