Tight Security In Nuh As Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra Begins Amid Mazar Vandalism Incident

Nuh (Haryana), Jul 14 (PTI) The Brij Mandal Jalabhishek yatra began on Monday from the Nalhar Mahadev temple in Haryana’s Nuh amid tight security arrangements after a mazar was damaged ahead of the yatra the previous night.

The nearly 80-km yatra began at the Nalhar Mahadev temple in Nuh, about 50 km from Gurugram, from where the devotees will proceed to Jhir Mandir in Ferozepur Jhirka here. Going via Jhir temple, the yatra will end in Singar on Monday itself.

A mazar was damaged ahead of the Brij Mandal Jalabhishek yatra in Nuh’s Tauru town, police said on Monday as security was ramped up in the district to ensure there is no repeat of the clashes that broke out during the religious procession two years ago.

The culprits behind the vandalism on Sunday night are unidentified, officials said. After the incident, a large number of police personnel have been deployed at the mazar in Tauru’s Sainipura mohalla.

“The administration is taking necessary action in connection with the damage to the mazar in Tauru. It will be ensured that the Jalabhishek yatra is organised in a peaceful and harmonious environment in the district,” said Nuh Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena.

“There is complete peace there and necessary action is being ensured by the police and district administration in this regard,” he said.

He said the officials have been instructed to make all necessary arrangements in their areas. Duty magistrates and police officers have been deployed at everywhere. Devotees are going to temples to perform their prayers.

“There is an atmosphere of peace in all areas. The general public is appealed to trust only official information,” Meena said.

He said seers from different parts of the country, especially Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, have arrived to participate in the yatra.

On July 31, 2023, six people, including two home guards and a cleric of a Gurugram mosque, were killed in clashes that erupted when a mob attacked a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) procession in Nuh.

To ensure that all goes well this year, around 2,500 police personnel have been deployed. All government and private schools in the district are closed and internet services remain suspended.

Many welcome gates have been erected and food stalls set up for the members of the procession on Monday, officials said.

People from all faiths will give a grand welcome to this yatra at more than 60 different places on the yatra route, they said.

Nuh’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Malik said all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the yatra.

“Duty magistrates are on duty. Arrangements related to security are in place. Devotees are coming in large numbers and everything is going on smoothly and peacefully.

“People from all communities have set up welcome gates at different points and are showering flower petals on devotees to welcome them. This shows the brotherhood and bond which people in the Mewat region shared with one another. Many people are offering their services as volunteers. Today is the first Monday of Shravan month and there is great enthusiasm among devotees,” Malik said.

The carrying of all weapons, including licensed arms, firearms, swords, sticks, tridents, rods, knives and chains, has been banned. Only the sheathed kirpan, worn as a religious symbol by members of the Sikh community, has been exempted.

The use of DJs, loudspeakers or sound-amplifying devices with content that is religiously provocative or hurts the sentiments of any community is also strictly prohibited during the yatra, according to an order issued by the authorities.

The district administration has also banned the sale of meat along the yatra route starting Sunday. Meat shops along the Kanwar route are to remain closed till July 24.

The Haryana government on Sunday ordered the suspension of mobile internet, bulk SMS services (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice calls, in Nuh district for 24 hours — from 9 pm on July 13 to 9 pm on July 14.

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)