Rules to celebrate Eid al-Adha in UP, per Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 27 June, directed local administrative officials and police officers via video conference to maintain law and order in the state on the eve of Eid al-Adha.

He said, “On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, animal sacrifice should be made only at designated places." Local officials are to ensure that people stick to the pre-decided places on the day itself.

He also directed the police to make sure that no 'prohibited animal' was sacrificed anywhere, in a clear proscription against beef being a part of the celebrations in the state.

District officials and other local bodies were asked to ensure that "an action plan for the systematic disposal of waste after sacrifice in every district" was given due importance. Because otherwise such wastes "become the cause of disease", he noted.

Adityanth added that the police should deal "strictly" with 'mischievous elements' as well at this 'sensitive' time.

Traffic restrictions are expected to be in place and gatherings are also likely to be controlled, as the chief minister instructed that traffic should not be "affected due to religious activities".

Recalling arrangements made during Ramzan, he said, "This effort has been appreciated across the country. This time, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and Muharram, we will have to implement the same system. A dialogue should be made with the respective religious leaders/intellectuals in this regard by the local administration."

Interestingly, instead of forbidding obstruction of traffic as was done for Ramzan and is expected for Bakra Eid, the two-month Hindu celebration of Kanwar Yatra has a proscription against open sale of meat along the route used by pilgrims, as directed at the same meeting.

The Kanwar Yatras regularly cause traffic snarls and road closures and reroutings in UP's larger cities such as Noida every year.

Surveillance is also being stepped up in time for Eid. Additional police personnel are to be deployed for patrolling on foot in 'sensitive areas'. Two drones would be deployed for aerial vigilance in the Old City area of Lucknow, a Muslim-majority space.

Aparna Rajat Kaushik, DCP Central and Lucknow police spokesperson, said as many as six DCPs, 10 additional DCPs, 21 ACPs, 52 inspectors in-charge of police stations, 101 additional inspectors, 922 sub-inspectors, 48 women sub-inspectors, 894 head constables, 3,375 constables and 965 home guards have been deployed to ensure law and order in the state capital.

The chief minister directed administrative bodies to "respect religious traditions/faiths, but do not allow things that go against tradition. Allow organizers to hold programmes, but ensure that everyone follows the rules and regulations. There should be no display of weapons in religious processions. No incident that hurts the sentiments of people of other religions should be allowed to happen." 

In addition to the armed police teams, 8,000 civil personnel are being deployed across the state capital, which has been divided into four zones and 18 sectors for the occasion.

Of the 94 Eidgahs for namaz and 1,210 mosques, 64 have been identified as 'hotspots' as issues were reported from those locations in the past.

Doubtless there have been issues reported from specific locations during Holi, Diwali, Kanwar Yatra and other festivals in the past too, across the state and across the nation. However, no such 'hotspots' have been designated on the Kanwar Yatra route so far.

The senior officials were also told to obtain the 'cooperation of the media' to ensure an "atmosphere of peace and harmony". A Peace Committee meeting has been ordered, with a direction to "Issue a positive message for the people".

With inputs from PTI and IANS