Security blanket, Holi celebrations till 2pm, Friday prayers after 2.30 pm in Sambhal

Tarpaulin-covered mosque walls guarded by RRF men in riot gear, barricades blocking the slope to Shahi Jama Masjid, and police officers leading processions – Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal likely witnessed the most highly guarded Holi in recent years on Friday.

Officials claimed strict security precautions were made because Holi and the second Friday prayers of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan fell on the same day.

The necessity for heightened security in Sambhal, particularly in the Shahi Jama Masjid area, resulted from the violence that happened during a court-ordered inspection of the mosque on November 24 last year, as well as controversy over the recent comments of Sambhal Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary that “people who mind colours should not come out on Holi as Jumma arrives every Friday, but Holi only once a year”.

Sambhal has been tense since violence erupted on November 24, where four people were killes and numerous other injured, including police officers. The festival of colours and Friday prayers were held peacefully amidst heavy security.

The 'Chaupai' Holi parade took place throughout the city and proceeded through ten mosques in the Sambhal district, including the border wall of Shahi Jama Masjid, from which an upward slope leads to the mosque courtyard, Indian Express reported.

According to a police spokesman, all ten mosques were covered with tarpaulin sheets to prevent them from being coloured. Chaudhary himself hurried tempos, dhols, and hundreds of colour-soaked people chanting 'Jai Shree Ram' through the city's small streets as the clock struck 2 p.m., the end time for the Holi parade.

The government, in collaboration with the 'peace' committee, determined that Friday prayers may begin at 2:30 p.m., an hour later than usual after the street's Holi celebrations on the street ended.

“Sambhal was divided into six zones and 29 sectors. We have deployed six companies of PACs (Pradeshik Armed Constabulary) and a company each of Rapid Response Force (RRF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Sambhal to ensure peaceful celebrations. Drones were also used for surveillance,” said Sambhal SP Krishna Bishnoi.

Around 2:30 p.m., people begin to walk towards the Shahi Jama Masjid Mosque, with RRF and police troops ensuring that they move in a straight line past the barricade downhill.

“Namaz ka waqt toh 1:40 (pm) hota hai (Namaz time is at 1:40 pm),” a man says. “Shanti bane rahe bas, 40-minute lenge (It’s alright, we will pray after 40 minutes),” another man replied.

One of them, Md Suleiman, who has been praying at the site for 30 years, claims that this is not the first time Holi and Jumma have coincided.

“Even if there wasn’t this much security, it would have been peaceful. During festivals, we consult with each other before celebrations,” he says.

At the masjid, devotees rapidly mounted the steps, while a group of ten police officers sat on the structure's extended wall. The mosque's prayers began promptly at 2:30 p.m., and around 2:50 p.m., worshippers began to leave the property.

RRF personnel gathered around the mosque, opposite the under-construction police station, and directed the believers down the slope in a straight line.

“I did my prayers and I am going. That’s all we wanted to do, without any ruckus. There are troublemakers everywhere. Har baat pe itni fauj kyun laani? (Why do we bring so many security forces),” says Chand Mohammad, 49, as he moves past the barricade towards his home.