>Processions taken out in Mirgund, Budgam, Baramulla
> Strict restrictions remain in force in Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 30: Hundreds of mourners on Sunday joined Ashura procession on the tenth day of first month of Islamic calendar of Muharram, when Hazrat Imam Hussain, Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) attained martyrdom at Karbala in Iraq over 1400 years ago.
Despite ban imposed by the Divisional Administration on all religious processions and large congregations, Shia mouners today took out Ashura processions in different parts of the Valley.
However, this time security forces and police personnel deployed did not stop the processions today after clashes on Friday and Saturday at some places.
Mourners, reciting Marsia and other religious slogans, took out processions from Mirgund, Khomani chowk Bemina, Badgam and Baramulla. Majority mourners were keeping physical distance besides wearing masks during these processions.
However, no Ashura procession was allowed in Srinagar, where security forces and police personnel had closed all roads in the civil lines.
Meanwhile, in a message on the occasion of Ashura Muharram, the LG said that Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions sacrificed their lives for upholding the values of truth, justice, and righteousness. He added that their martyrdom reminds us of the high principles of human dignity and morality.
Remembering the martyrs of Karbala on Ashoora, the 10th day of Muharram, the LG said that Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions are the epitome of courage and patience who made historic sacrifices at Karbala.
He urged the people to follow the path of righteousness and truth and hoped that such occasions would further strengthen the bond of love, peace, tolerance, and brotherhood among all communities.
The Chinar Corps in a tweet said “ On this day, we remember the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, which stands testimony to the fact that a true human never bows his head to terror and always stands against injustice.
Restrictions remain in forces across Srinagar
Strict restrictions were again imposed on Sunday in parts of Srinagar city to prevent Ashura processions on the 10th day of first month of Islamic calendar Muharram.
Large number of security forces and police personnel were deployed in parts of the Srinagar city, including historic Lal Chowk, Maisum, Gaw Kadal, Basant Bagh and other areas to prevent Ashura procession. All roads leading to Lal Chowk have been closed with barbed wire and other barricades. The main Amira Kadal bridge, connecting Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) with civil lines has been closed with barbed wire since early this morning. However, another important Budshah bridge was open though people were being questioned before allowing them to go.
Roads leading to Maisuma from Budshah chowk and Haji Masjid were closed. Similarly Exchange road was also closed.
Interestingly life elsewhere in the city, including busy business hub Batmaloo was normal with shops open and traffic also plying.

New Delhi, Aug 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday on the occasion of Ashura recalled the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and said his emphasis on equality as well as fairness are noteworthy and give strength to many. ”We recall the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS). For him, there was nothing more important than the values of truth and justice. His emphasis on equality as well as fairness are noteworthy and give strength to many,” said PM Modi in his tweet.

Advisor, DGP pay tributes to slain police officer

Srinagar, Aug 30: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants and an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of J&K police were killed in an encounter in the summer capital, Srinagar on Sunday.
Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbag Singh said that the militants were given ample opportunity to surrender and even their parents were brought to the encounter site to persuade them to give up arms. A video in which parents of two of the three slain militants are urging their sons to surrender is also doing round on social media.
Meanwhile, expressing grief over the death of the ASI, the DGP said that Babu Ram was an encounter special and had played key role in numerous anti-militancy operations in the valley.
Giving details, Singh said that three motorcycle borne militants attacked a joint party of police and CRPF at Panthachowk in the city outskirts late last night. “The militants tried to snatch weapons from the jawans after firing several shots. But alert troops foiled the attempt and chased them,” he told reporters on the sideline of wreath laying ceremony here on Sunday.
Singh said as the militants were being chased, they ditched their motorcycle and tried to flee on-foot in Dobi Mohalla.
He said the entire area was immediately cordoned off with the help of reinforcements and a search operation was launched.

The DGP said when security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there, fired at them. “The security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter,” he said, adding a militant was killed while an ASI was critically injured in the initial exchange of fire.
Singh said the injured officer, identified as ASI Babu Ram, was immediately taken to a hospital where he succumbed. “Ram has been associated with SOG team for a long time and had played key role in numerous anti-militancy operations in the valley,” he added.
Singh said that the parents of the remaining to militants were brought to the encounter site, where they tried to persuade their sons to surrender. “This was despite the fact that we had lost a brave jawan. But we still gave them the opportunity to surrender,” he said.
However, he said the firing again started and in the exchange of fire both the militants were killed on Sunday morning.
He said one of the slain militants was a commander and was active in the area for some time now. “The slain militant is involved in many attacks,” he said, adding all the three militants belong to LeT.

He said one AK-47 rifle and pistols were recovered from the encounter site.
Official sources said that the militants have been identified as Sakin Ahmad, Umar Tariq and Zubair Majeed.

Advisor, DGP pay tributes to ASI Babu Ram
Rich tributes were on Sunday paid to Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of Jammu and Kashmir police Babu Ram who made supreme sacrifice during an encounter at Pantha Chowk in Srinagar early this morning.
Three militants were also killed in the encounter.
Advisor to Governor R R Bhatnagar, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar and other senior Central Paramilitary Force (CPMF), police and civil officer paid floral tributes to ASI at wreath laying ceremony held at District Police Lines (DPL), Srinagar.