Muharram: At Least 4 Killed, Dozens Injured In Electrocution Incidents And Clashes In UP, Gujarat, Delhi

At least four persons were killed and dozens were injured in multiple incidents of electrocution and clashes on Saturday on the occasion of Muharram across states. 

Muharram is observed by Shia Muslims to mourn the death of Hussain, Islam's founder Prophet Muhammed's grandson, at Karbala (present-day Iraq). The Muharram is the first month of Islamic calendar and the 10-day mourning period, which began on July 19 this year, concluded on Saturday on the day of Ashura, when Shias take out 'tazia' processions to mourn Hussain's death, which they consider martyrdom. Tazia is a miniature replica of Hussain's tomb. 

In Uttar Pradesh, two were killed and 59 were injured from electrocution during tazia processions in Amroha and Bareilly. There were also incidents of clashes in which injuries were reported. In Varanasi, Shias and Sunnis clashed, resulting in some injuries. In Pilibhit, a group of Hindu kanwariyas and Shia mourners came face to face. 

In Delhi, 12 were injured when a section of people taking out the procession clashed with the police in West Delhi's Nangloi area. Six of the 12 injured were police personnel. The police had to resort to lathi-charge to contain the situation. 

In Gujarat, two were killed and 22 were injured in an electrocution incident in Rajkot. 

Uttar Pradesh 

Two deaths and dozens of injuries were reported in Uttar Pradesh on Muharram on Saturday. The deaths were caused by electrocution in Amroha. Injuries from electrocution were also reported in Bareilly. 

In Varanasi, the two sects of Muslims, Shias and Sunnis, clashed, and there was a clash between Hindu kanwariyas and Shia mourners in Pilibhit. 

Amroha

Two were killed and 52 were injured with burn injuries in Amrohi's Patei Khalsa village under the Didoli police station area on Saturday during a Muharram procession. 

The incident took place when the music system of the tazia came in contact with the high-tension wires, said police. 

Superintendent of Police Aditya Langeh told PTI that three-four people were been sent to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, 26 were discharged after administering first-aid, and the rest of the injured are admitted to the district hospital and will be discharged soon.

Langeh told PTI, "The accident took place as the height of the 'tazia' was around 25 feet and the high-tension wire was located at a height of 35 feet. The 'tazia' came within the range of the magnetic field of the electricity wire, which led to the accident." 

Amroha District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar Tyagi said there was a loudspeaker on the 'tazia' and an iron rod on it. He told PTI instructions were issued not to make 'tazias' above 12 feet in height but the total height of this 'tazia' was 20-22 feet, adding that that prima facie, it seems that the death was due to electrocution, and the reasons will be cleared after the post-mortem examination.

Bareilly

In Bareilly, seven people were injured with burn injuries when a portion of the 'tazia' came in contact with a high tension cable, officials told PTI.

The incident took place in Maria village in the Baradari police stations limits. SHO Abhishek Kumar told PTI seven people sustained burn injuries when a portion of a 'tazia' came in contact with a high tension electricity cable.

As a precautionary measure, the electricity supply of Bareilly city was switched off till midnight, an official of the electricity department told PTI. 

Varanasi 

Members of the Shia and Sunni sects of Islam clashed during a Muharram procession in Varanasi's Joshipura area on Saturday. Some injuries were reported and damage to vehicles and stone-pelting was also reported. 

A police official told PTI one of the injured persons has been sent to the BHU Hospital for treatment.

"There was a minor scuffle between Shia and Sunni communities in the Doshipura area of the city under Jaitpura police station. There was stone-pelting and some persons were injured," said this official to PTI, requesting anonymity, and without specifying the number of people injured.

Commissioner of Police Ashok Mutha Jain Jain told PTI the members of the two communities came face-to-face during the 'tazia' procession in the Doshipura area.

"Stones were pelted by both sides. The police separated them. In order to control the situation, a heavy police force along with RAF personnel has been deployed. Police are trying to ascertain the cause of the incident, and efforts are on to nab those involved," said Jain.

Jaitpura police station SHO Mathura Rai said six-seven vehicles were damaged in stone-pelting, reported PTI.

Pilibhit

In Pilibhit, Shia mourners and Hindu kanwariyas came face to face during a Muharram procession. The police intervened and no major incident was reported. 

The PTI added that the incident took place on the Bareilly Highway.

Stones were also pelted towards the police and Circle Officer (Sadar) Prateek Dahiya got injured, reported PTI.

Dahiya told PTI, "Yes, I was slightly hit by an object. I don't know whether it was stone or something else."

Dahiya added the kanwariyas and 'taziadaars' came face to face, but "timely intervention by the police" prevented any untoward incident. He said the situation is "absolutely under control" now. He said the windscreen of a magistrate's four-wheeler was damaged in stone-pelting.

Delhi

Twelve people, including six police personnel, were injured when a section of people taking out a Muharram procession clashed with the police in west Delhi's Nangloi area on Saturday.

Stone-pelting and damage to vehicles was reported when the people were stopped from changing the designated route of procession, reported PTI.

The police resorted to lathi-charge to contain the situation and disperse the "unruly crowd", reported PTI citing officials. The incident took place around 6 pm.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Harendra Singh told PTI, "Several 'tazia' processions were being carried out in Nangloi area and around 8-10,000 people participated in them. One or two organisers on the Main Rohtak Road became unruly and tried to deviate from the route which was mutually decided in the coordination meeting with taziadaran.

"Efforts were made to convince them to stick to the pre-decided route and proceed to the designated burials. While most of them cooperated, a few miscreants became unruly and started instigating the public and resorted to stone pelting.

"To ensure the safety and security of passers-by on the road, which included women, children and motorists, the unruly mob was dispersed by police with mild use of lathicharge and order was restored immediately. They were dispersed from the area. The tazia processions were subsequently conducted peacefully in the area as per customs and religious practices."

According to the police, six police personnel and six volunteers, including five women, sustained minor injuries while some police vehicles were damaged in the stone pelting, reported PTI, adding that he situation in the area is under control and legal action will be taken against the culprits. 

In some purported videos of the incident, some people in the area are seen pelting stones causing damage to public vehicles, including buses, and private cars, reported PTI, adding that they were seen running on the road and allegedly attacking the vehicles.

In one of the videos, police are seen resorting to lathicharge while in another, passengers inside a bus can be seen ducking or sitting on the floor to avoid getting hit by the stones, reports dPTI.

A video of a woman sitting inside her car as the crowd damaged her windscreen by pelting stones on it also circulated on social media platforms, reported PTI.

Gujarat

Two people died from electrocution during a Muharram procession in Rajkot district on Saturday. Twenty-two others were injured.

The incident took place in Rasul Para area of Dhoraji town as the `Tazia' being carried by the devotees came in contact with a 22 KV overhead electricity wire, said an official to PTI