Amidst lingering tensions following communal violence in July, the Haryana government has intensified security measures in the district of Nuh as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced its intention to resume the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra today.
The yatra, previously marred by violence on July 31, has prompted the Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, to urge devotees to offer their prayers at local temples within the state.
Chief Minister Khattar’s appeal comes in the wake of concerns regarding the proposed yatra, for which permission has been denied as a precautionary measure due to the violence that transpired just a month ago, resulting in six casualties.
As per a police spokesperson in Nuh, a force consisting of 1,900 Haryana Police personnel and 24 contingents of paramilitary forces has been positioned. The district of Nuh has been sealed off from outsiders, with all entry points under strict vigilance. The route leading to the local Malhar temple, where the yatra was intended to commence, has been closed to public access.
According to VHP members, the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra is slated to commence at 11 am from Nuh’s Nalhar Mahadev Mandir. The yatra will subsequently proceed to Ferozepur Jhirka’s Jhir Mandir and later conclude at Singar Mandir in Punhana, all within the span of five hours, concluding by 4 pm.
Organized by the VHP’s youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, the event operates under the banner of Sarva Hindu Samaj and is being orchestrated with meticulous precautions, as conveyed by the organizers.
The local administration has taken a series of preventative measures to maintain public order. Educational institutions and banks have been preemptively closed, while mobile internet and bulk SMS services have been suspended. Furthermore, prohibitory orders have been issued throughout the district to curtail any potential unrest.
