More cops for Muharram in Trilokpuri, Bawana

Keeping in mind the communal tension simmering in outer Delhi’s Bawana and the fragile peace in East Delhi’s Trilokpuri that saw violent clashes after Diwali, the police are taking no chances and have put both areas under a security blanket ahead of Muharram on Tuesday.

Keeping in mind the communal tension simmering in outer Delhi’s Bawana and the fragile peace in East Delhi’s Trilokpuri that saw violent clashes after Diwali, the police are taking no chances and have put both areas under a security blanket ahead of Muharram on Tuesday.

Apart from imposing restrictions on the display of weapons — swords, lathis and knives — during Muharram, the police will keep a close watch on the procession. Sources said special measures were being taken for other sensitive areas of the city, including Karbala, Jamia Nagar and the Walled City.

Communal tension had been prevailing in Trilokpuri since Diwali. A similar situation has been reported from Bawana with locals from a particular community objecting to the route of a Muharram procession.

To ensure peace in Trilokpuri, the police planned to increase the duration of the prohibitory orders that had been relaxed, sources said. “The prohibitory orders were earlier relaxed from 6am to 7pm. They are planning to relax the orders till 3pm on Tuesday,” said a senior official.

The official said Trilokpuri is likely to see increased deployment on Tuesday. Over 1,500 policemen had been deployed on Friday during a Hindu religious ceremony in the area.

Tension in Bawana had been brewing for sometime and had turned worse after locals called a mahapanchayat on Sunday, objecting to the route of a Muharram procession. The police deployed extra forces in the area, with additional pickets to maintain harmony. “We are taking all precautionary steps and have deployed extra forces in both the locations,” said special commissioner (law and order) Deepak Mishra.

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi cancelled his trip to the Interpol’s General Assembly in Monaco on Sunday due to the prevailing communal tension in Trilokpuri and Bawana. Bassi was supposed to accompany Home Minister Rajnath Singh and CBI director Ranjit Sinha for the international meet.