Kashmir youth sets himself on fire to protest Muharram ban

A youth on Friday afternoon set himself on fire to protest a ban on Muharram processions along the traditional routes through the civil lines area in capital Srinagar.

Police said the man was part of a group of Shia mourners at Batmalloo area who tried to break through police restrictions to march towards Imambara, Dalgate.

However the marchers were teargassed and cane charged which prevented them from moving ahead.

Police said the fire was doused and that the youth has been detained. Dozens others have been injured.

During the first Muslim month of Muharram, Shia muslims across the world mourn the martyrdom of the

Prophet Mohammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein in the Iraqi city of Kerbala in the year 680.

But in Kashmir, Muharram processions have been banned since an insurgency broke out in 1989.

Authorities fear such processions could be exploited to fan sectarian violence in this region, where the majority of the population are Sunni-sect muslims.

They also imposed restrictions today in at least at five police station areas and restricted vehicular movement.

In the past no such restrictions were put in place to prevent this march, only that police would fire teargas shells and cane charge mourners to stop them from moving along the traditional routes.

However, protests were expected after a call by hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani against the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza which killed more than 150 Palestinians including women and children.

Authorities fear protest marches could snowball into major anti-India demonstrations.

(EKNN)