Police lodge FIR after scuffle between Shia groups in Kashmir

The Jammu & Kashmir Police on Monday (June 29, 2026) lodged an FIR in connection with a scuffle between groups of the Shia community in Budgam’s Hardpanzoo even as the All J&K Shia Association president Molvi Imran Reza Ansari blamed Pakistan-backed elements for the violence.

“A fair, impartial and evidence-based investigation is underway. Anyone found involved, irrespective of affiliation, will face strict legal action as per law,” the police said.

The fight happened over a religious site where a procession is taken out on the 12th of the Islamic month of Muharram every year. Officials said Mr. Ansari’s relatives were among those attacked.

“They (the attackers) are those who are backed by Pakistan, the country that again wants to spill blood on the roads of Kashmir. They are those who killed policemen in their homes. We will not allow it this time. We have full faith in the police and our Constitution,” said Mr. Ansari, also a member of Sajad Lone’s Peoples Conference.

In a post on X, Mr. Lone, a legislator, said he “failed to understand why the police were showing so much tolerance for what was clearly a criminal conspiracy”. 

“There is nothing like a good criminal and a bad criminal. Likes and dislikes are ok. But this is stretching it too far. I have seen people being summoned for the flimsiest of charges by police. And here a person takes to social media to absolve himself of any criminal intent and in the same breath subtly justify the criminal event that took place yesterday,” said Mr. Lone.

Another Shia cleric Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari condemned the incident and alleged that “a local and limited issue was being used for political interests, personal publicity and vote bank politics”.

“It’s not only irresponsible but also a deliberate attempt to hurt the unity of the Shia community and the sanctity of mourning. We have no direct or indirect connection whatsoever with the incident. Despite this, levelling baseless and fabricated allegations against our late father is deeply regrettable and highly condemnable. This approach not only reflects political bankruptcy but also harms the unity of the Shia community,” he said.