Indian Police launch crackdown on pro-Palestine supporters during Muharram
Srinagar: Tensions escalated across parts of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir after Indian police disrupted Muharram processions by removing pro-Palestine posters, sparking outrage from the local Muslim community.
According to Kashmir Media Service, police removed a banner featuring Hezbollah co-founder Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini near a bridge in the Ashai Bagh area of Srinagar, triggering protests from mourners and local residents.
The move was widely condemned by Member of Parliament, Agha Ruhullah, who accused the police of following the BJP-RSS agenda and ignoring India’s long-standing support for Palestine. Ruhullah said expressing solidarity with Palestine is in line with India’s official foreign policy. Locals also noted a growing intolerance toward pro-Palestine sentiments, despite such expressions being part of the traditional Muharram observances in the territory.
The incident in Srinagar was followed by a similar confrontation in Magam, Budgam district, where police attempted to remove Nasrallah’s posters from another Muharram rally. The action led to a protest in which a Sub-Divisional Police Officer and a Station House Officer were reportedly manhandled by mourners before being rescued by local elders. Eyewitnesses said the peaceful procession turned into a pro-Palestine demonstration following the police intervention.
Residents and activists argue that the crackdown reflects a broader attempt by authorities to suppress political and religious expressions aligned with resistance narratives. “The removal of Palestinian flags and symbolic posters undermines the spirit of Muharram, which is rooted in the stand against oppression,” said Abid Hussain, a local mourner.
Anger continues to simmer, with rights activists warning that such actions only deepen the disconnect between the local population and the occupation administration. Many see the suppression of pro-Palestine solidarity during Muharram as part of a larger effort to stifle dissent and erase the political conscience of Kashmiri Muslims under the guise of law and order.
