Srinagar/ Islamabad
Government forces on Saturday fired shotgun pellets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of Shia Muslims, participating in a traditional religious procession in Indian-controlled Kashmir, injuring scores, eyewitnesses reported.
An officer at the police control room in the main city of Srinagar said the mourners on the outskirts of the city violated prohibitory orders in place that restricts all religious processions and gatherings across the disputed region.
A duty officer said the police were confirming the number of injured.
Medics at one hospital said they treated at least 30 people, some of them with pellet and teargas injuries. Many injured were taken to another hospital.
“The procession was not just peaceful but was also following health protocols,” said Sajjad Hussain, an eyewitness. “They (government forces) unleashed such violence and did not spare even women mourners.”
Police broke up several such processions in the region this week.
Officials said at least 200 people were detained in Srinagar this week for participating in Muharram processions and at least seven people were arrested under an anti-terror law for raising pro-freedom slogans.
Meanwhile, Islamabad has slammed New Delhi over extra-judicial killing of Kashmiris in “fake encounters” and imposition of restriction on religious gathering and processions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
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.
“Pakistan strongly condemns extra-judicial killing of four more Kashmiris in staged encounter in Shopian region of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday.
