Ashura observed with religious zeal in occupied Kashmir

Srinagar, November 16, 2013 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, thousands of people participated in Ashura processions across the territory on Friday.

The occupation authorities had declared curfew and other restrictions deploying hundreds of troops and police personnel in Srinagar to thwart the mourning processions. The authorities had also sealed the areas of historical Jamia Masjid in Srinagar disallowing people to offer Juma prayers.Despite restrictions, processions were taken out in Alamgari Bazaar, Balhama, Baarji Harwan, Kral Mohalla Harwan, Gulshanbagh Lal Bazar, Solina and other areas of the city.

Indian police personnel resorted to brute force injuring many mourners at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Hurriyet leaders, Agha Syed Mujtaba and Ghulam Mohammad Nagoo, were arrested along with dozens of people on the occasion. The police also arrested Hurriyet leader, Imtiyaz Haider.

APHC leaders including Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash, Zafar Akbar Butt and Javed Ahmad Mir led a big procession in Badgam. Addressing the gathering, they paid rich tributes to Karbala martyrs including Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions. They said that the martyrs of Karbala preferred martyrdom to surrender before the tyrannical forces. They further said, Karbala teaches people should never forsake principles for pecuniary benefits and other personal interests.

The speakers also passed on the message of APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, to the people. The Mirwaiz was put under house arrest in Srinagar. In his message, the APHC Chairman called upon the people to maintain unity to foil the evil designs of miscreants.

Hurriyet leaders, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Ghulam Nabi Zaki and Ghulam Hassan Majrooh, led big Ashura processions in Pahalgam and Sopore areas. In their addresses, they paid glowing tributes to Karbala martyrs and denounced the house arrest of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Large Aasura processions were also taken out in Baramulla, Hanjiveera, Pattan, Mirgund, Wakharwan, Awantipora, Tral, Magam, Beerwah, Sumbal, Kulgam and several other areas of the occupied territory. Thousands of mourners participated in mourning processions in Kargil, despite sub-zero temperature.

Senior APHC leader, Maulana Abbas Ansari, addressing a series of mourning ceremonies denounced the puppet authorities for imposing ban on major Muharram processions in Srinagar.

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