Mosques and mazars along the eight-kilometre route of the traditional Juta Maar Holi procession in Shahjahanpur were covered with tarpaulin sheets on Monday as authorities ramped up security ahead of the annual event.
The district administration said 48 mosques and shrines have been draped with thick plastic sheets as a precautionary measure. More than 200 magistrates, along with heavy police deployment, will oversee the procession, which has historically drawn large crowds.
The centuries-old festival features a person dressed as the British-era “Laat Sahab” riding a buffalo cart, at whom revellers hurl shoes and sandals while playing with colours. Last year, minor incidents involving the throwing of objects at police personnel prompted a mild lathi charge.
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Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi said security has been enhanced to one-and-a-half times that of last year. Four Additional Superintendents of Police, 13 Circle Officers, 310 Sub-Inspectors, 1,200 constables and 500 Home Guards will be deployed. Four companies each of the Provincial Armed Constabulary and the Rapid Action Force, besides a National Disaster Response Force team, will also be stationed.
Authorities have installed over 100 solar-powered CCTV cameras and barricaded 148 lanes opening onto the route to prevent crowd surges. The procession has been divided into seven zones with 136 zonal and sector magistrates supervising arrangements.
Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Rajneesh Kumar Mishra said preventive steps, including externment of identified individuals and opening of history sheets, have been taken.
Peace committee meetings involving members of all communities have been held over the past month.
Local leaders across communities expressed confidence that the festival would be held peacefully, citing a long tradition of communal harmony in the city.
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