Tag : Festivals

Bhopal: To ensure that upcoming festivals are celebrated in a peaceful atmosphere, maintaining harmony between the communities (Hindu-Muslim), Madhya Pradesh's Shajapur district police have come up with an initiative to involve local residents as social volunteers. Different groups of volunteers, comprising youth from both communities, were trained during a recent training camp organised at district police headquarters, and have given particular names such as - Police Mitra, Gram Suraksha Samiti, etc. During the one day training camp, Superintendent of Police (SP) Shajapur, Jagdeesh Davar has instructed the volunteers to keep a close watch on their respective areas allocated to them and to inform the police so that any untoward incident (if emerges), can be avoided. The step has been taken in view of upcoming religious festivals - Muharram (August 9-10), Rakshabandhan (August 11), and Janmashtmi (August 18-19). During the Muharram, the people of the Muslim community carry a procession called - 'Tazia'. Notably, the district has a mixed population of both Hindus and Muslims; and is considered a highly sensitive zone in the state. Communal incidents spark here every now and then, which keep the police on their toes, even during non-festival seasons. "Even a scuffle broke out between individuals over some personal reasons would spark communal violence here. This entire Agar-Malwa region is considered a highly sensitive area due to communal clashes. Politically connected people plays a bigger role in making the tense situation for their own benefits," said another senior police officer posted in the district. A fresh such instance was reported during recently concluded local body elections when winning councillor Samiullah Khan, who ...