24 hurt as police crack down on marchers in IHK

Some two dozen people were injured Sunday when police broke up religious processions by Shia Muslims who defied a ban and strict security lockdown in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said. Police in riot gear used batons and fired teargas to disperse Shias in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, a police officer said, asking not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to media.
Authorities have forbidden most processions in Kashmir since the outbreak of insurgency against Indian rule in 1989 on grounds that the emotional religious rituals could be used by separatists to stoke anti-India sentiment. They allow only small mourning rallies and processions in areas with sizeable Shia populations, leading to annual friction between police and mourners.
“We had to detain some three dozen mourners for defying the ban (on procession),” the officer said, adding nearly two dozen mourners and policemen were hurt during ensuing clashes.