Drone monitoring of Muharram procession in Jamshedpur 

Jamshedpur, Aug 5: Elaborate security arrangements will be made by the district administration to ensure that Muharram is observed peacefully in the steel city on August 9. While the district police will stage a flag march across the city on the eve of Muharram, it has arranged for using drone cameras at a number of localities amidst deployment of police forces at the sensitive areas in the city.

Revealing about the administrative preparedness, a senior police official said that over 2,300 armed police will remain posted at the strategic locations in Mango, Jugsalai, Golmuri, Kadma and Telco. “Apart from the deployment of armed police, we have also arranged to press drone cameras during the Muharram processions to be taken.  The drone cameras will be used at Mango, Kadma, Dhatkidih in Bistupur and Makdampur in Parsudih,” he said.

He said the main purpose behind using drone cameras is to ensure that no disturbing element may commit any mischief during the religious processions which will take out these pockets dominated by the minority community. He said they have staged a flag march for instilling confidence among the people, especially those who are going to observe Muharram.

He said a convoy of over 20 police vehicles will start the flag march from Golmuri police line in Golmuri and moved around the localities like Telco, Burmamines, Jugsalai, Kadma, Bistupur, Sonari, Mango, Azadnagar, Sitaramdera, Golmuri and Sakchi.

District administration will also restrict movement of heavy vehicles on the occasion of Muharram.  The `no-entry’ will remain imposed from 9 am till 6 am. Muharram is observed by Muslims to mourn the death of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad in the battle of Karbala.

Police have also roped in local volunteers to keep an eye on any suspicious activity and identify outsiders who may try to disrupt the peace in the locality. Procession will remain restrained this time as devotees will not carry any combat weapons. They will also not inflict injuries on themselves using sharp-edged objects like blades, chains and whips which has been a tradition in such a procession to mark the mourning.