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Police Attack Muslims Mourning Ashura in Indian-Controlled Kashmir

Police Attack Muslims Mourning Ashura in Indian-Controlled Kashmir
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Indian police attacked Shia Muslims taking part in Ashura procession to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein [AS], the third Shia imam.

Police Attack Muslims Mourning Ashura in Indian-Controlled Kashmir

Shia Muslims were holding a mourning procession in Srinagar in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Friday, chanting religious slogans when police attacked and arrested an unspecified number of them.

Every year, during the month of Muharram, Muslims from around the world hold religious mourning ceremonies for the third Shia imam, who was martyred in the desert of Karbala in 680 AD.

Reports said authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir imposed restrictions in some parts of Srinagar, fearing religious processions marking Muharram would turn into anti-India demonstrations.

Tensions are high in the Indian-controlled region, where the Muslim-majority population stages regular protests against the Indian rule and demands autonomy from New Delhi.

India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training militants and allowing them across the restive frontier in an attempt to launch attacks on Indian forces. Pakistan strongly denies the allegations.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both since the two were partitioned and gained independence from Britain in 1947.

The two countries have fought three wars over the disputed territory. Despite a ceasefire agreement that was reached in November 2003, sporadic skirmishes continue in Kashmir.

New Delhi has deployed some 500,000 soldiers to the disputed region to further boost the security of the borderline and enforce a crackdown on pro-independence demonstrations in its share of Kashmir, where anti-India sentiments are high.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

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