Muharram tazia procession allowed in uptown Srinagar after over 3 decades

 SRINAGAR: For the first time since 1989-90 when the Kashmiri separatist campaign burst into a major violence, the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have decided to allow the Shia mourners to take out a tazia procession on the 8th of Mohurram (Thursday) through a traditional route in uptown Srinagar.

However, an order to this effect issued by Srinagar’s district magistrate after consulting the police authorities makes it obligatory for the participants of the procession “not to indulge in any anti-national or anti-establishment speeches, sloganeering or propaganda or any activity that shall in any way affect the communal or sectarian harmony or religious, ethnic, cultural and regional sentiments of the people.”

The organisers have been asked to start the procession from Srinagar’s Guru Bazaar at 6 am and culminate it at Dal Gate after passing through Budshah Bridge and Moulana Azad Road before 8 am and informed them that “no activity during the procession shall be prejudicial to the security and sovereignty of the state and no disrespect shall be show to any national symbol or emblem.” They have also been asked not to hoist any flag depicting “provocative slogans, text and or photos of terror outfits, logos of banned organisations at both national and international levels”.  

Yet another condition the order places on the organisers is that they will abide by all the rules and regulations and “shall not indulge in any activity which may lead to any law or order problem in the area or cause any defacement or damage to the government or public property.” The authorities have also banned the use of drones during the procession.

Prior to the outbreak of militancy, Srinagar's Shia residents used to take out huge processions from Aabi Guzar in Kothibagh and Guru Bazaar in Shaheed Gunj police station areas of the summer capital which would culminate into Hussaini majalis or gatherings at Zadibal and Dalgate in Ram Munshi Bagh police station areas to mark the 10th and 8th day of Muharram mourning, respectively. The main Muharram processions through traditional routes were later banned as the authorities feared that such public marches and events could be turned into massive pro-azadi rallies by separatists which may create law and order situations.

The violation of these official curbs led to clashes between groups of mourners and the police on many of these occasions. However, Tazia, Zuljinah and Alam processions to commemorate the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussein and his 72 family members and companions in the battle of Karbala (Iraq) in 680 AD. would be allowed in the areas having sizable Shia population in and outside Srinagar.