Ahead of Holi, mosques in UP covered with tarpaulin sheets
What's the story
As Holi draws near, mosques in several Uttar Pradesh districts have been covered with tarpaulin.
The decision was influenced by multiple factors, including the overlap of Holi with the Islamic holy month of Ramzan and security concerns.
It is the first time in 60 years that Holi and Ramazan 'Jumma' fall on the same day.
Some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and administrative officials had also suggested Muslims stay indoors if they are uncomfortable with being colored.
Security measures
DGP issues directives to ensure peace during Holi
Leading Muslim clerics have rescheduled Friday prayers to after 2:00pm in light of changes.
Images shared by ANI showed several mosques in Sambhal district, which has seen violence following a court-ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid, covered with tarpaulin sheets.
DGP Prashant Kumar has sent a 20-point directive to all district police chiefs, commissionerates and heads of police zones and ranges.
The directive has called for heavy police and paramilitary deployment in sensitive areas in their districts.
Security details
Additional security measures in Shahjahanpur district
Over 75 mosques and shrines in Shahjahanpur district have also been covered with tarpaulin or clothes.
Shahjahanpur is the only district with a unique tradition of 'Joota Maar Holi,' where people play Holi with shoes/slippers.
A senior officer at the DGP Headquarters told The Indian Express senior officers would supervise the traditional procession to ensure safety during the event.
Barricades were set up along the procession route.
Security measures
Preventive actions and security deployment in Shahjahanpur
Furthermore, SP Rajesh S revealed that preventive action has been taken against 2,423 people to deter troublemakers.
He said 10 police circle officers, 250 sub-inspectors, around 1,500 police personnel and two companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) will be deployed.
Apart from Shahjahanpur, additional paramilitary forces have been deployed in districts including Mathura, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Meerut and more.