Security in shia dominated areas stepped up in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 24 (UNI) Security in the shia dominated areas and shrines has been tightened as a precautionary measure following Shia-Sunni clash in Iraq after a bomb attack on the Golden Mosque in Samarra, one of the holiest Shi' ite shrines.

Though we do not apprehend communal clashes in the valley, we have stepped up security in the shia dominated areas and important shrines as a precautionary measures, ''Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range K Rajinder Kumar told UNI.

He said precautionary measures were taken to thwart any attempt by trouble makers to disturb peace.

Mr Kumar said people in Kashmir always withstood such a challenge successfully in the past and frustrated the attempts of people having vested interest.

''We saw Kashmiri people--Shia and Sunni-- jointly protesting against any attack on religious places,'' he said and expressed the hope that communal harmony would be maintained at all costs.

Shia and Sunni muslims jointly protested in Kashmir valley against the attack on the shrine.

Processions were taken out in various parts of the valley, including shia dominated areas. The processionists were raising anti United States slogans.

They alleged that US and other occupied forces and their local agents in Iraq were responsible for the attack on the shrine and subsequent damage to sunni mosques.

The chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference appealing people to maintain peace said it was a deep-rooted conspiracy to divide the Muslims and divert their attention from the cartoon controversy.

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