Police break up Muslim Muharram procession in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Indian police broke up a procession of Muslim mourners observing the month of Muharram in Srinagar, the capital of Indian Kashmir on Sunday, according to reports.

Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is one of the holiest months for Shia Muslims when they commemorate the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussain in Karbala, present-day Iraq. 

Sunday marked the eighth day of the month, two days before the processions will peak on Ashura. 

In Kashmir, the crackdown of the security forces on Muharram processions of Shia Muslims. If it is not majoritarianism what it is? pic.twitter.com/xAX7wL8ATG

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) August 7, 2022

Police had earlier placed restrictions on congregations in the city of Srinagar, and subsequently cracked down on mourners who defied the order. 

Dozens of videos have surfaced on Twitter and other social media platforms showing India's security forces forcefully breaking up the procession. 

Ashura this year falls just days after 5 August, which marks three years since the Indian government revoked Kashmir's special status under the constitution, including the right to make its own laws on all matters except for defence, foreign affairs, and communications. 

Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority region, has weathered decades of violence since it was partitioned between India and Pakistan when both countries became independent in 1947.

The neighbours both claim the entire region and have fought two wars over control of the territory. It currently remains one of the most militarised regions in the world.