India, June 28 -- A major tragedy was averted during a Muharram procession in Mumbai after police arrested a man accused of distributing capsules allegedly laced with a highly toxic chemical among devotees, officials said.

The accused, identified as Fayyaz Premji, was detained in the Byculla area on Friday after several people who consumed the capsules complained of illness.

A court later remanded him to two days' police custody.

Toxic capsules allegedly distributed during procession

According to police, Premji was distributing capsules among participants in the Ashura procession near Rehmatabad Cemetery at Reay Road, claiming they were painkillers or immunity boosters.

One of the victims, Salman Sayed, reportedly suffered stomach pa...