Srinagar, Aug 06, KDC: After the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh directed the Commissioner Secretary or any other competent authority to consider the petition seeking permission to take out Muharram procession, after taking in view the overall law and order situation in the Union territory, within three days, the administration imposed restrictions on 8th Muharram processions in Kashmir capital Srinagar and said security concern and law and order of the Union territory is the top most priority of the government keeping into the view the larger public interest and safety of its citizens.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz in an order a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Dot Com said “In view of Security concern of the district with respect to the Moharram, the processions therein can’t be allowed on the Guru-Bazar towards Buchwara and Abi-Guzar towards Zadibal routes respectively, keeping in the public interest, law and order and security.
He said a detailed meeting involving all the field magistrates, police officers and leaders of Shia community wherein they were briefed about the routes allowed/disallowed for Muharram processions in Srinagar.
“Numerous groups have attempted to hijack the processions to advance their objectives and indication came from within the Shia community at different times thereby disallowing the processions from the last 32 years on certain routes. The Srinagar city Muharram processions from Lal-Bazar to Zadibal has not been curbed since 1990 and is facilitated by the district administration by way of providing alternative routes backed by elaborate administrative and security support system. Thus the Muharram processions on the routes mentioned in writ petition in Srinagar have not been curbed but rerouted to avoid inter community clashes and also to prevent the secessionist network from High Jacking it,” the order quoted as said by the intelligence agencies.
Meanwhile, Srinagar police in a statement said the Muharram procession from the Guru-Bazar towards Buchwara and Abi-Guzar towards Zadibal routes respectively in Srinagar has not been allowed by the authorities.
“General public is requested to respect rule of law and don’t appreciate/endorse any rumour regarding procession or rally,” reads the statement. (KDC)
