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Journalism of Courage
Ahmedabad was wrapped in uncertainty and apprehension as arrangements were put in place for the annual rath yatra beginning Friday.
The walled city remained tense and there was a cry for peace everywhere — in the form of posters and banners urging people to stay calm and not believe in rumours. The city swarmed with securitymen but even they seemed edgy, not allowing people to gather at any place.
Muslims in Dariapur, Shahpur and Jamalpur have locked their homes and left. Those who have stayed back will be observing a ‘‘janata curfew’’, which means staying indoors until the yatra is over.
In the evening, Haj Committee members visited the Jagannath temple and met Mahant Rameshwardasji. The temple trust issued a whip to all akhadas not to raise provocative slogans or make gestures that could cause trouble. The yatra starts at 7 am and ends at Jamalpur by 8 pm. Given the route that passes through some of the most congested areas of the city, police are keeping their fingers crossed.
The entire route has been combed for possible trouble-makers and preventive arrests have been made. Tomorrow, police and paramilitary forces will be present all along the route. A helicopter will keep watch from the air while CCTVs will monitor the yatra on the ground.
Dariapur today saw constant patrolling by the BSF. Abdul Karim, owner of a cloth store, said: ‘‘Police are not allowing people to gather at any place.’’ Traffic on the roads was less than usual. ‘‘People are afraid of coming out of their houses. Police ko dekh kar sab dar jaate hai,’’ he said.
Khatija Pathan, a resident of Dariapur, said he will close the main gate of his house when the procession passes by. At Shahpur, many shops downed shutters early.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in and Friday prayers in all mosques located in the sensitive areas, including Mandvi, Panigate, Fatehpura would be completed before 2 pm tomorrow to ensure smooth passage of the rath yatra.
The City Police Commissioner Din Dayal Tuteja said today that an assurance in this regard was given to him by several Muslim delegations that called on him a couple of days ago.
