After more than three decades since the outbreak of militancy, the Shia community on Thursday took out a Muharram procession on a traditional route in Srinagar passing through the Lal Chowk area, with hundreds of people participating in it amid tight security.
The administration had on Wednesday permitted a two-hour window – from 6 am to 8 am – for the procession. Mourners filled the streets as they peacefully marched on the Gurubazaar to Dalgate route carrying flags and chanting in unison.
“It’s a dividend of peace,” Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Aijaz Asad said, thanking security agencies as well as local volunteers for their assistance.
People had assembled at Gurubazaar around 5.30 am for the 8th Day procession and many hoped that the administration will now allow the important 10th Day march on Saturday.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the street violence in Jammu and Kashmir has ended and an era of peace has dawned in the Union Territory as he expressed satisfaction over the holding of Muharram procession.
“I am happy to tell you that today the 8th of the Muharram procession was taken out after decades and concluded in Srinagar peacefully. It would be wrong to do any politics on religious events,” he said while addressing a conference on Sufism here.
Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told reporters that a three-tier security arrangement has been provided.
This is the first time in more than 30 years that the procession on the 8th day of Muharram has been allowed on the route.
