Sectarian Harmony on display: Police, Locals, NGOs serve refreshments to Shia mourners on 8th Muharram

Srinagar : In a major show of sectarian harmony and brotherhood, Jammu and Kashmir Police, locals and NGOs were seen distributing refreshments to Shia mourners in Srinagar during the massive 8th Muharram procession on Thursday.
The J&K Government allowed the 8th Muharram procession through traditional routes of Srinagar first time after a gap of over 30 years. Thousands of mourners amid thumping of chests and recitation of praises in favour of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) passed through MA road and Dalgate. In between, they were provided refreshments by police, locals and NGOs in a show of solidarity and sectarian harmony.
J&K police had installed a stall where SSP Srinagar Rakesh Bhalwal was seen distributing water and other cold beverages to the Shia mourners. Dozens of mourners were seen drinking the refreshments from “Police Sabeel”. “The sabeel is to stand with the Shia mourners on this day and to earn rewards as well. J&K police is part and parcel of the society. It’s our prime duty to stand with our shia brethren today,” a police man while distributing drinks, said.
Asgar Baba, a volunteer with an NGO—“Who Is Hussain”, said that they have started this sabeel from Muharram 1 and it will continue throughout the month.
Many local NGOs, and locals were also seen distributing the water and juices among mourners. “As per our tradition, we have been distributing the drinking water and juice to mourners almost every year. Today, it’s a golden opportunity as authorities have allowed the procession through traditional routes,” said local traders at M A Road, who had erected a stall to serve beverages to mourners.
The Shia mourners expressed their gratitude to the police and others who had erected stalls to serve water and other drinks for them. “We are all one and Hussain (AS) belongs to entire humanity and mankind,” they said