Shias protest baton charge on Muharram procession in Srinagar - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

A group of Shia Muslims took to the streets to protest the baton-charge by Jammu and Kashmir police on a Muharram procession here on Monday. Religious processions have been banned in Jammu and Kashmir state since militancy broke out in 1989. Several protestors bearing black banners shouted slogans against the Union Government, condemning the baton-charge. Addressing the protestors Coordinator of the Anjuman Shari'e Shian Muhammad Shafi Hussani said : "When we tried to take out this procession from Lal Chowk, you must also have seen, they beat up these young boys, forced these children inside their vans and beat them and then locked them inside a jail. India claims to be one of the biggest democracy, is this what they call democracy?" On Sunday, a group under the aegis of Anjuman Shari'e Shian took out a procession as part of the observance of Ashura, from Abi Guzar in Lal chowk area. The Muharram procession marks the death and martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam Hussain ibn Ali. The martyrdom day of Imam Hussain is marked by prayers, processions and self-flagellation by many Muslims to mourn his death.