Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jul 4: Amid the 8th Muharram procession at Lal Chowk here top officers, including Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, IGP Kashmir V K Birdhi, DC Srinagar Dr Akshay Labroo, and SSP Srinagar Dr. Sandeep Chaudhary, and others stepped out of their official roles on Friday to facilitate thousands of Shia mourners by offering them water amidst sweltering heat.
Their gesture did not go unnoticed. For many, it signified a growing sense of mutual respect and communicative harmony between the administration and the Muslim community. “It was not just water distribution, but it felt like a sign of respect. For once, it seemed like the administration was walking with us, not just watching us,” Mehran, a local from Bemina, Srinagar said.
He said, it is rare to see such gestures, especially during religious events. It makes a difference.
Another mourner, Murtaza Ali from Hassanabad, shared that for years, they marched under heavy watch. “Today, when they (police) handed us water, it felt like they stood with us,” he said.
Meanwhile, while officials shared that all arrangements from traffic control to medical aid and security arrangements were part of planned coordination, the moment at Lal Chowk stood apart, sparking conversations about changing perceptions and cautious optimism.
It is worth mentioning that as the procession moved forward, the officers offering water to mourners amid heat was appreciated widely over social media.
