Srinagar, Feb 4: The unprecedented security restrictions in the Shahr-e-Khaas area of the City on Thursday affected the commemoration of annual Urs at the shrine of Makhdoom Sahib (RA) on the Koh-e-Mara Hills.
 While devotees from other areas were denied permission to visit the shrine, those living nearby were allegedly thrashed by the troops.
 The residents of Makhdoom Sahib locality near the shrine said the devotees from nearby areas couldn’t make it to the shrine as they were stopped by the police and paramilitary CRPF on guard in the area.
 “Many who had planned to offer Fajr prayers at the shrine were beaten near the shrine entrance and had to return to their homes,” the locals said.
 The devotees said they had been practising a convention of visiting the shrine for prayers for all the 13 days of the Urs, which commenced last week.
 “It was to be the 7th day of Urs, but I couldn’t manage going there due to the curfew,” said a medico living in uptown.
 The devotees said the attendance for the Khatam-e-Quran at the shrine which starts from Asar prayers remained thin.
 “This is for the first time that we didn’t have that huge a gathering and it was only because of the curfew,” said a devotee.
 A senior police official however said denied the complaints saying: “There were no restrictions on  the movement of devotees,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 4 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 4 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST