Curfew imposed in Srinagar during Moharum

New Delhi/Srinagar, Dec. 17 (ANI): Curfew was imposed in Srinagar on Friday to prevent any untoward law and order incident during Moharum, which is being observed throughout the country.

Moharum is observed in memory of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, who sacrificed his life to protect the dignity for human values.

Tazia processions are taken out by Muslims throughout the country.Curfew was clamped down in seven police station areas of Srinagar, to facilitate the smooth movement of Shia processions.

The restriction was imposed in areas falling under the jurdistiction of the Kothi Bagh, Maisuma, Kralkhud, M R Gunj, Safa Kadal, Nowhatta and Khanyar police stations, official sources said.

On Thursday night, state police took moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and a dozen supporters into preventive custody after he threatened to defy curfew and attend Friday prayers.

"Mirwaiz along with 15 activists of Awami Action Committee (AAC) were arrested from the Mirwaiz manzil, the head office of AAC at Rajouri Kadal," Shahid-ul-Islam, a spokesman for Mirwaiz said.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari had said, "Mirwaiz has been taken into preventive custody and shifted to his residence at Nigeen, where he will be put under house arrest".

"Muharram, or the "sacred month", marks the beginning of the Muslim year.

From the advent of Islam, a number of important events have been commemorated on the tenth of this month. One of them was the deliverance of Moses and the Israelites from the tyranny of Egyptian Pharaoh.

The month is now primarily associated with the period of mourning the Shias observe in commemoration of the martyrdom of 'Ali's son and Muhammad's grandson Husain. ('Ali and his elder son Hasan are also remembered during this period as having suffered and died for the cause of righteousness.) "On the tenth day of Muharram, Husain was brutally murdered by troops of the Ummayyad Caliph Yazid after refusing to take the oath of fealty to him.

He left Medina for Kufa in Iraq with a retinue of his women and children and close relatives. As Husain and his following approached the plains of Karbala, they were intercepted by Yazid's troops under the command of 'Ubaydullah, the governor of Kufa.

On the morning of the fatal day, 10th Muharram, (683 A.D.) Husain fought brave]y till he was slain, the last on the battlefield. His violent death to this day awakens the sympathy of the faithful who com-memorate his martyrdom with sorrow and indignation." (ANI)