Lucknow, March 12: Uttar Pradesh Police is fully alert ahead of the Holi festival and Friday prayers of the Muslims. Force has been deployed in sensitive areas and every activity is under scanner. In view of the colors used on Holi, arrangements have been made to cover mosques with tarpaulin. At some places, they have been covered.
Officiating Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar has appealed to the people of the state to celebrate the festival with mutual harmony. Along with this, orders have been given to the police to deal strictly with the hooligans.
DGP has told the officials that no new tradition should be allowed to start during the festivals. Force should be deployed at the places where Holika Dahan and processions take place.
He said that as Holi festival falls on Friday (Jumme), administrative officials should hold a meeting with all religious leaders and organizers. All the problems related to the festival mentioned by them should be resolved beforehand.
DGP further informed that the routes of the procession in mixed population areas should be monitored with adequate police force, CCTV cameras, drone cameras. Special vigil should be kept on those who spread rumors on social media and take action against them.
Prashant Kumar added that mosques will remain covered. On Friday, Holi festival colors will be played and Jumme ki namaz will also be read on this day. In such a situation, Muslim religious leaders have decided to cover mosques during the color play. 10 mosques including Jama Masjid will be covered in Sambhal, the most discussed district of the state. Apart from this, a very big procession of ‘Laat Sahab’ takes place in Shahjahanpur. During this, 32 mosques falling on the route of the procession have been covered with mutual consent. This has been done in many cities.
