Srinagar : Police has registered a case of sedition and arrested two persons after mourners at a Muharram procession allegedly raised “pro-freedom slogans” in Hokersar area here, officials said on Wednesday.
The action was taken after a video of the alleged incident appeared on social media, police said, adding more arrests were likely.
“On surfacing of a video in social media in which mourners were found chanting pro-Azadi slogans in a Muharram procession, Parimpora police station has taken cognizance,” a police statement said.
It said the police acted swiftly in identifying the location of the incident — Hokersar Nowpora Bund, about 2.5 kms inside the Hokersar road — and the persons involved.
“The area is isolated and there was no history of organising any such unlawful gathering before, neither was there input of any gathering/procession nor was there any police presence, as the area is far from main Imambara ( which is on the bund of Hokersar lake),” read the statement.
“It has been revealed that some boys from adjoining area of Budgam led by Sajad Hussain Parray, son of Mohammad Yousuf Parray of Nawpora Gund Hassi Bhat; Arif Ahmad Dar, son of Mohammad Akbar Dar of Gund Hassi Bhat near J&K Bank and Raja Mehboob, son of Mehboob Hussain of Gund Hassi Bhat took advantage of the area and assembled here and raised pro-Azadi slogans,” police statement said.
A case has been registered (under FIR No 177/2020 U/S 13 ULA(P) Act 143,188,269 IPC) against the accused.
“Midnight raids were conducted in which two persons have been arrested and further arrests are expected in the said case and the investigation is going on,” added the statement.
