Jamshedpur: Security measures in place for Holi and Shab-e-Barat

Jamshedpur, March 13: In the light of Shab-e-Barat and Holi festivals falling on back-to-back dates the district administration has planned adequate security arrangements to ensure safe and peaceful celebrations. The police establishment in particular has worked out elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident during the two eventful days. Shab-e-Baraat will start on March 18 evening.

The Muslim dominated areas including, Azadnagar, Dhatkidih specifically have been identified for providing securing cover.

Bistupur Police Station, convened the meeting of the local area peace committee and informed the members about the measures the administration has planned for the March 17 celebrations. In addition to this he also apprised the committee about the arrangements.

Police personnel will be deployed on the 15-km stretch, between Azad Nagar to Dhatkidih, to provide security to the religious events.

However, for the Holi festival all the police stations of the district have been asked to take up measures to prevent hooligans from creating law and order problems on the festival day. In the light of elections round the corner, excited party activists and small-time criminals cross the limits on the pretext of Holi celebration and many a time this creates problems for the police.

“Keeping in mind about the possible scenario we have asked the officer in-charge’s of the police stations to carry out arms checking exercises and pace up patrolling for the next couple of days,” said an official.

On Shab-e-Barat, Muslims clean the graveyard and decorate it with lights and candles for reading and performing rituals during the night.

A devotee Md Ibraham, said the night is very precious and unique for the Muslim community.

 “Shab-e-Barat is a very precious night for us. On this night, we stayed up all night. Along with reading the Quran (Holy book of Muslims), we ask forgiveness for our sins, we wish for a better future and pray that our ancestors are at peace. We also read a lot of other holy prayers and thus spend the night,” he said.

To maintain the sanctity of the occasion, cemeteries and graveyards are cleaned up and decorated throughout the day for the prayers to be offered at night.

“On Shab-e-Barat, all of us Muslim brothers and sisters come to the graveyard to pray for our ancestors. So during the morning, we clean up the graveyard. We perform Fateh (Muslim prayers) as well. In the night, we come to offer our prayers to Allah and ask for forgiveness for all sins committed by us, knowingly or unknowingly,” said Firoz Hussain, a Muslim devotee.