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City Muharram processions held peacefully

Last Updated 04 November 2014, 20:22 IST

Muharram processions in Delhi passed off without any untoward incidents on Tuesday amidst heavy deployment of police forces in communally sensitive locations in Bawana, Trilokpuri and Karbala among others.

Women and children generally stayed indoors during the processions in Trilokpuri which had been affected by riots in the recent past. However, Muslim devotees here saw some Hindu volunteers join them in the procession. Several stalls manned primarily by Hindus were also seen serving refreshments to Muslims.


Bawana, on the other hand, saw processions restricted to the JJ Colony boundaries. This was against a decade-old tradition of carrying the processions through some Bawana villages after a “Mahapanchayat” held by locals on Sunday raised objections.

Senior officers visited the sensitive spots prior to the commencement of the processions and deployed their men among the locals to prevent any rumour mongering. A few mischief mongers were also detained by police at Bawana.

Restrictions on entry and exit of vehicles were also enforced in Bawana and other areas. A senior police officer said that political leaders were barred from joining the processions on behalf of their parties. JJ Colony’s population, consisting of Hindus and Muslims, saw members of both the communities coming forward to show all was fine between them.
Village residents in Bawana, meanwhile, expressed “relief” at the change in the procession route.

“Every year on this day the procession led to heavy traffic snarls on the route for six hours. Their tradition of playing with sticks, swords and fire was dangerous to us and we could say nothing to the charged up people. We had to shut our shops and even medical aid was delayed on this day,” said Sandeep, a shopkeeper on the original procession route.

Javed Sheikh, a JJ Colony leader,  who was in touch with police officers in the colony, said Muslims themselves offered to restrict their procession after sensing trouble.

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(Published 04 November 2014, 20:22 IST)

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