Authorities in Kashmir tighten security ahead of Muharram

A heavy blanket of security has been placed across the Kashmir Valley, including summer capital Srinagar, in anticipation of the annual Muharram procession undertaken by the Shia community.

Muharram marks the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in a battle with political rival, Yazid, in 680 A.D. in the Iraqi city of Karbala.

People of Srinagar said they were experiencing problems due to the heightened state of security. Public transport was shutdown, markets were closed and children were finding it extremely difficult to reach their schools.

"We wanted to go to school but the transport system here is shutdown. There was supposed to be a procession by the Shiites here and that is why police have imposed restrictions. We are facing a lot of problems. Children are not being able to go to school and are facing lot of problems,"said a resident, Aaqib Mohammad.

Muharram falls on the tenth day of the Muslim New Year month, known as Ashura, when Shia Muslims flog themselves with steel-tipped flails or slash their bodies with knives to express solidarity with Hussein.

Imam Hussain was killed in the battle of Karbala along with 72 of his relatives, friends and supporters.