New Delhi: Muslims on Tuesday observed Muharram by
taking out Taziya processions, flagellating themselves and
offering special prayers but the day of mourning witnessed
clashes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar resulting in injury to over
30 people.
Slogans of "Ya Hussein" rend the air as Shias took part
in the ceremonial mourning commemorating the martyrdom of
Prophet Mohammed`s grandson Imam Hussein with flags and
replicas of Hussein`s tomb in their hands. Sunnis offered
prayers, observed fasts and distributed alms on the occasion.
But the religious fervour was marred by few clashes.
Police fired in the air when two groups clashed with sharp
weapons and 21 people, including six policemen, were injured
during a procession at Ganga Vihar village in Bihar`s Gaya
district.
Gaya SP Satyaveer Singh said police fired 10 rounds in
the air but none was injured. The two groups had attacked each
other with swords, spears and other sharp weapons and threw
stones injuring 15 people from both sides, he said, adding
when policemen rushed to control the situation they were
also attacked and six of them were hurt.
In another clash in the state, four policemen were
injured in heavy brickbatting by rival groups during a tazia
procession at Hiramma village in Sheohar district.
In Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh, as many as six
policemen and journalists were injured and around a dozen
houses set ablaze following a clash during a procession in
Malokhar village, police said.
Police and PAC personnel have been deployed in and around
the area where the situation is now under control, they said.
In Agra, mourners protested after Tazia got stuck under
steal girders near a railway bridge in Freeganj-Biraganj area.
The girders were temporarily removed after the protest.
Several taziya processions were taken out in the national
capital and in its satellite towns. Most of the processions
culminated at Karbala in Jor Bagh in south Delhi.
On this day, Muslims remember Hussein who died fighting
the forces of caliph Yazid around 1,400 years ago at Karbala
in Iraq.
In Jammu and Kashmir, restrictions were imposed in parts
of Srinagar to prevent mourners from taking out a procession
in and around the city`s commercial centre Lal Chowk.
Large number of security personnel were deployed at all
the entry points leading to Lal Chowk to prevent the mourners
to take out processions.
DGP Kuldeep Khoda said these were not curfew restrictions
but imposed largely to ensure peaceful gathering of people and
smooth conduct of Muharram processions.
On Sunday, police had prevented a procession of mourners
near Jehangir Chowk, which led to clashes in which at least 10
people, including a policeman, were injured.
PTI
