The 8th Muharram procession was finally permitted to follow its customary path on Thursday after more than 30 years by the authorities.
The march has been given two hours of approval by the government. It must be done between 6 and 8 in the morning. Notably, the procession is traveling via the historic Shaheed Gunj to Dalgate route, which has been off-limits to processions since 1989 due to the background of the law and order situation.
To avoid any situations involving law and order during processions, the government put the necessary security measures in place.
“We genuinely hoped that the long-awaited request to take the eighth procession through its customary path would be granted. We have considered every factor. There is a ton of traffic on the way since tomorrow is a workday. Accordingly, the procession will take place between 6 am and 8 am, emphasizing both the needs of the general public and those of the participants (Muslims), according to Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Wednesday.
Significantly, a high-level conference to review Muharram preparations was presided over a day earlier by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar.
The administration of religious processions, crowd control, avoiding any adverse occurrences and maintaining a calm atmosphere, crowd control, traffic management, and security measures in terms of manpower deployment and technology advancements were reviewed.
Additionally, it was suggested to SSP Srinagar to monitor mob gatherings using technology like drones.
In order to ensure that everyone may celebrate Muharram in safety and security, ADGP Kashmir further urged all people to exercise caution, report any suspicious activity, and work with the government.
Muslims place a great deal of religious importance to Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic calendar.