Mob, Police clash in Delhi over route of the Muharram procession

New Delhi: A Delhi Police official reported that clashes broke out between the police and mob during a Tazia parade on Saturday night outside the Surajmal Stadium in Delhi's Nangloi neighbourhood.

Around 8,000 to 10,000 people were participating in the parade peacefully, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Harendra Singh, but some of the organisers of the Tazia demonstration sought to deviate from the planned path.

"Several 'tazia' processions were being carried out in Nagloi area and around eight to ten thousand people participated in them. One or two organisers became unruly and tried to divert their procession route which was earlier decided," he said.

This led to a heated argument, escalating into a dispute.

“The situation further worsened when the mob engaged in a scuffle with the police officers started pelting stones towards police. In response, the police resorted to baton charges to disperse the unruly mob,” said the DCP.

Around 8 to 10 police officials sustained minor injuries, and police vehicles were also damaged.

“We have not arrested anyone yet but legal action will be initiated,” said the official.

However, to restore the law and order situation in the area, police have temporarily closed all the markets, and additional police personnel have been deployed.

“The situation has returned to normalcy. There has not been any further violence,” Singh added.

Muslims take out "tazia" processions on Muharram to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in the battle of Karbala in 680 AD. "Tazia" is a miniature replica of the tomb of Imam Hussain.

With inputs from agencies