Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram of the Islamic calendar, passed off peacefully on Friday even as authorities imposed curfew in most parts of Srinagar and placed three top separatist leaders under house arrest.
Various organisations had planned processions on the day to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammad.
However, the authorities restricted the movement of people to prevent separatists from joining the processions and turn them into pro-Azadi and anti-India demonstrations.
Police placed separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Shabir Shah under house arrest.
The Mirwaiz was forcibly moved from his Rajouri Kadal house at midnight and dropped at his Nagin residence. He had temporarily shifted to his old house in Srinagar downtown planning to give the Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid and also lead a procession.
JKLF chief Yasin Malik reached Gulshan Bagh to join a mourning procession which culminated in the Zadi Bal area of the city in the evening. Several religious leaders participated.
However, processions could not be taken out in Abi Guzar and Shaheed Gunj areas as they were under curfew. District Magistrate Srinagar Meraj Ahmad Kakroo told The Hindu that curfew had been imposed as a precautionary measure.
A police spokesman said there were no reports of any untoward incident. The situation remained normal and under control throughout Kashmir Valley, he said, adding that authorities had placed curfew restrictions in the jurisdiction of seven police stations in Srinagar city. The curfew period in these areas passed off peacefully.
“Later in the day, restrictions were relaxed in some curfew-bound areas. Friday prayers also concluded peacefully throughout the Valley,” he added.
Large processions were taken out in other parts of the Valley. The largest one was led by Anjuman-e- Sharayee Shian president Agha Syed Hassan in Budgam.
