UP: Mosques on route of Holi procession covered with tarpaulin

Shahjahanpur: The district administration has covered the mosques with tarpaulin and barricaded them as a precautionary measure before the historic procession on the occasion of Holi in Shahjahanpur district here in Uttar Pradesh, a senior police officer said here on Wednesday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh S said that apart from the Chota and Bada Laat Sahab, a total of 18 processions are taken out in the city on Holi, of which two processions are prominent. "For the security of these processions, Bada Laat Sahab has been divided into three zones and 8 sectors, in which about 100 magistrates have been deployed," he said.

He said that the police have taken preventive action against 2,423 mischievous elements. "In the security arrangements of both the processions, about 1,500 policemen including 250 sub-inspectors from 10 police jurisdictions, two companies of PAC will also be deployed on the procession route," he said.

Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Kumar Mishra said that about 350 cameras have been installed on the procession route and about 20 mosques on the procession route have been covered with tarpaulin so that they do not get coloured. "Along with this, barricades have been put up near the mosque and the electric transformer," he said.

He said that two tractor trolleys will run in front and behind the procession which will pick up shoes, slippers and torn clothes lying on the road. "Sky lift will also be in the procession. Still camera holders will also be present near 16 police picket points who will videograph the entire procession which will be seen live," he said.