Indian forces injure scores of Kashmiris taking out Muharram procession

Eye-witness says hundreds of mourners were marching when occupation forces fired shotgun pellets and tear gas

SRINAGAR:

Scores of people mostly Shia Muslims were injured on Saturday when occupation forces dispersed a Muharram procession with pellet guns in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), eye witnesses said.

Nazir Ahmad, an eye witness, said hundreds of mourners were marching near the Hamadania Colony on the outskirts of the capital Srinagar as part of the procession to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

"But some youths shouted pro-freedom slogans. Police charged at us with teargas and pellets.

"Many were injured and some taken to hospital," he said.

A Muslim Shiite mourner who was injured after Indian policemen resorted to tear smoke shelling and pellets at Muharram procession in Bemina area of Srinagar, #Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/BxjpS0Chnf

— Bhat Burhan (@bhattburhan02) August 29, 2020

Six of the mourners with pellet injuries were brought to the city’s largest Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Dr Nazir Choudhary, medical superintendent of the hospital, told Anadolu Agency.

“Three have pellet injuries in the eye. Doctors are assessing the severity of their injuries,” he said.

Development of Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 & 35A.

Before commenting on #swedenriots , question your conscience .@RanaAyyub @imMAK02#Muharram pic.twitter.com/PhMLbzNC1F

— Ahmed Bilal Chowdhary ( احمد بلال چوہدری ) (@AhmedBilal_JK) August 29, 2020

Prominent Shia leader Imran Reza Ansari tweeted: “Want to ask the [Occupied] Jammu and Kashmir Admin if permission was granted for peaceful procession with Covid-19 SOPs why were the mourners of Imam Hussain beaten up brutally.”

Want to ask the JK Admin if permission was granted for peaceful procession with Covid 19 SOPs why were the Mourners of Imam Hussain beaten up brutally. @manojsinha_ @JmuKmrPolice

— Imran Reza Ansari (@imranrezaansari) August 29, 2020

He also tweeted a picture of an injured mourner on a hospital bed whose abdomen is covered with blood.

Jai Hind Sir, 🙏🥴 can you give his eyes back. But Y can't U pic.twitter.com/tZHQKDHv7x

— Arif Akhoon (@arifakhoon_) August 29, 2020

During the past week, police used baton or teargas canisters to disperse mourners in a few smaller processions in various parts of Srinagar, eyewitnesses said.

On Thursday, a police spokesperson said three men were booked under an anti-terror law after a video surfaced in which people were shouting pro-freedom slogans during a similar procession on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Pakistan's foreign office on Saturday slammed New Delhi over extra-judicial killing of Kashmiris in “fake encounters” and imposition of restriction on religious gathering and processions in IIOJK.

“Pakistan strongly condemns extra-judicial killing of four more Kashmiris in staged encounter in Shopian region of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday.

“Equally condemnable are the restrictions imposed on religious processions and gatherings during Muharram,” it added.

On Friday, Indian occupation forces sealed off parts of IIOJK’s main city Srinagar to stop mourners from staging processions during the month of Muharram and detained at least 50 attendees.

With input from News Desk