The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday (July 2, 2025) warned legal action against those who circulated any content related to the removal of a particular “flag” in Srinagar that sparked street protests from Shia community.
The community had claimed that the removed banner had images of deceased Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrullah and Iran’s spiritual leader Ali Khamenei on it.
A police spokesperson said certain social media users were “circulating malicious content related to the removal of a particular flag”.
“Such posts have the potential to disturb public order and harmony. All social media account holders are hereby strictly advised to immediately delete such content and refrain from sharing or uploading any similar material in the future. Failure to comply will attract strict legal action under applicable laws,” the police said.
The police directive comes hours after protests broke out over the alleged removal of a banner set up for a Muharram procession in Srinagar’s Saida Kadal area by the J&K Police. Locals alleged the banner, which was removed by a police officer, had “revered Shia figures” on it. They claimed the police, however, “allowed the banner to be used in the wake of protests”.
“The reported incident, where a police officer removed a religious symbol during Muharram, is deeply disturbing and must be treated as a serious overreach. Such actions not only display a lack of cultural awareness but also amount to undermining the lawful religious practices of Muslims . This is not just a question of misconduct— it is an abuse of authority,” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Shie cleric, Muntazir Mehdi, said.
‘Abuse of authority’
Aga Mujtaba, another Shia cleric, said the J&K Police’s removal of revered Shia figures’ pictures and banners a couple of days back in Sofipora, Pahalgam, and today at Ashai Bagh, Saida Kadal, Srinagar, followed by their reinstallation after protests, “is a blatant abuse of authority”.
“This reckless act deeply hurts the Shia community’s sentiments, disrespecting their religious beliefs and cultural heritage. Such actions risk escalating tensions and eroding trust in law enforcement,” Mr. Mujtaba said.
He urged the Director-General of Police (DGP) to hold accountable the officers responsible for this insensitive conduct and ensure strict measures to prevent such violations in the future. “Respect for all communities’ religious sentiments is non-negotiable,” Mr. Mujtaba added.
Published – July 03, 2025 12:06 am IST
