At least 70 people including 17 policemen were hurt Saturday evening in clashes that broke out in Srinagar city in India-controlled Kashmir, health officials said on Sunday.

The clashes broke out after police tried to impede the religious procession of Shia Muslims who tried to take out rallies in the city.

Indian police fired warning shots, tear smoke canisters and resorted to baton charging to quell hundreds of Shia mourners. Many mourners were also detained by police.

Every year Shia Muslims in the month of Muharram (the first month of Islamic calendar) across the world mourn the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad. Hussein as per Islamic scholars achieved martyrdom in the Iraqi city of Karbala in the year 680.

However, in India-controlled Kashmir, the authorities have put a ban on Muharram processions in main city after an insurgency against New Delhi broke out in 1989. The officials cite security reasons to disallow the procession.

The police intervention in the procession prompted stone pelting. The mourners hurled stones and brick pieces on the policemen.

The mourners chanting religious slogans were beating chests with their fists, and sometimes whipping their heads with steel chains and knifes.

"More than 70 people were injured in the clashes today and brought to hospital for treatment," said a health official.

Police had already imposed severe restrictions in the city and issued prohibitory orders against procession.

Saturday was the eighth day of the month of Muharram. The main procession will be taken out on Monday the 10th of Muharram.