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Journalism of Courage
Security has been beefed up in Indore city following insistence of the VHP and Bajrang Dal to hold a ‘‘maha arti’’ at the Hanuman temple near Karbala ground, the venue for a Muharram congregation on Tuesday. Additional companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and security pickets have been set up around the Karbala ground to prevent any trouble.
Though the district administration has allowed the maha arti to be held at 9.30 am, the VHP insists it would hold the same at the customary time of 8.30 pm, fuelling fears of a confrontation between the two communities since a large number of Muslims gather at the ground then.
‘‘We are not against the maha arti but since it coincides with the Muharram congregation, a small altercation can fuel widespread clashes. Hence we have preponed the arti timing to 9.30 am when the attendance in the Muharram congregation is minimal,’’ said Indore Collector Rajesh Rajora.
But the VHP seems adamant on holding the arti in the evening. ‘‘The Hindu samaj (community) has been holding the maha arti at that time for years now. Just because it coincides with Muharram, why should we change the timings?’’ fumed the convenor of the Indore unit of Bajrang Dal, Pradeep Nair. He flayed the administration for preventing holding of the maha arti in the evening. ‘‘They are hurting the sentiments of the Hindus,’’ Nair added, denying that an assurance has been given to the administration for the preponed timings.
Two additional RAF companies and an STF company has been deployed. ‘‘We have beefed up the security, not only around the venue but at other sensitive places to prevent any untoward incident,’’ said Indore SP Adarsh Katiyar. He said anything suspicious near the venue would be checked. ‘‘Our role is to maintain law and order and our efforts will be to ensure the maha arti is not allowed at that time,’’ said the SP.
