Uttar Pradesh is under high alert as the processions of Muharram coincide with the ongoing Kanwar Yatra across several districts. To maintain peace and prevent any untoward incidents, authorities are deploying extra forces and utilizing technology such as drones and CCTV cameras for monitoring.
Heightened Security Measures
The state administration has stepped up security measures in sensitive areas, including Sambhal, Lucknow, Moradabad and Prayagraj. Police teams have been deployed, and continuous monitoring is being carried out through drones. Over 13,000 CCTV cameras have been integrated into the surveillance system.
In Moradabad, security has been heightened, and CCTV cameras have been installed. SP City, Ranvijay Singh, has stated that arrangements have been made for both occasions using technology. Drones will also be used to facilitate the movement of Kanwar Yatris.
Lucknow's western zone, also known as Old Lucknow, is considered highly sensitive during Muharram, and the police have taken extra precautions in the area.
District Magistrate's Directives
Sambhal District Magistrate Dr. Rajender Pensiya has said that peace committee meetings have been held at various levels, and people from all communities were invited to address their issues. Magistrates and police officers have been appointed at every location, and processions will be conducted in a box format with officers stationed on all four sides.
Ghaziabad police will set up five control rooms to monitor the Kanwar Yatra route from Modinagar to Tila Mod using CCTV cameras and drones. Alok Priyadarshi, Additional CP, has instructed his team to oversee the 52 km Kanwar Yatra route in the city.
Prayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar has stated that all necessary directions have been made for the successful conduct of the Kanwar Yatra, which will begin on July 11. He shared that all liquor and meat shops will be closed on the Kanwar Yatra routes. Guidelines have been issued for the Yatra, which include a fixed height and sound of DJs.
Chief Minister's Instructions
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officials to ensure law and order, communal harmony, and appropriate public amenities during the upcoming festivals. He issued clear instructions that all religious events must be conducted with devotion, safety, and social harmony, and the administrative machinery must work with full sensitivity and alertness.
Adityanath emphasized that the display of weapons and politicization of religious symbols during religious events are disruptive to communal harmony and must be strictly prohibited. He also directed that social media should be closely monitored, and drone surveillance should be ensured wherever necessary.
Other Preventative Measures
The Uttar Pradesh police, led by DGP Rajeev Krishna, have imposed stringent measures for the Muharram period, focusing on preventing any new processional routes and banning weapon displays. The police force is tasked with maintaining order, monitoring social media, and ensuring women's safety across the state.
In Shahjahanpur, local police will walk alongside the devotees, install CCTV cameras along the route, and deploy drones for aerial surveillance to ensure the safety of 'kanwar' pilgrims.
Authorities in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi have issued directives requiring all food and beverage outlets along the Kanwar route to display the name of the shopkeeper, employee details, and the shop's license information prominently to improve security and hygiene.
With these extensive security arrangements and directives, Uttar Pradesh authorities aim to ensure the peaceful and安全conduct of both Muharram processions and the Kanwar Yatra.
