SRINAGAR, Feb 7: The Indian police on Tuesday fired teargas canisters and used bamboo canes to break up Muharram processions in the occupied Kashmir, witnesses said.

Several people were injured and more than 50 were arrested on charges of violating prohibitory orders in force in Srinagar, police and hospital sources said.

Muharram processions have been banned in Indian-occupied Kashmir since the outbreak in 1989 of an anti-Indian insurgency.

Only small mourning rallies and processions are allowed in select areas with sizeable Shia populations, leading to annual friction between police and devotees.

Shia Muslims throughout the world stage processions and hold rallies during Muharram to mark the anniversary of Hazrat Imam Hussein’s (RA) death.

The clergy and local political groups have termed the restrictions as “unwarranted interference in our religious matters”.

The authorities say the emotional religious rituals could be used by separatists to stoke the crowds and give vent their feelings.

Maulvi Abbas Ansari, a prominent Shia leader and former chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, said that he was placed under house arrest on Monday evening to prevent him from joining mourners.

The main Muharram mourning processions are scheduled for Thursday.—AFP