Following last year’s violence when Islamists launched a planned attack on thousands of Hindus participating in the ‘Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra,’ the Nuh administration is implementing heightened security measures for this year’s Shobha Yatra. This year, the yatra will take place on 22nd July amidst a large police deployment. The Police will maintain a strict vigil as drones will be deployed to videograph the entire yatra. Special teams have been formed to monitor social media platforms. Additionally, Police personnel will be deployed in the mountains near the Nalhar Mahadev temple.
Administration officials said permission has been granted for the procession. However, they have prohibited arms, lathis, DJs, and loudspeakers during the Shobha Yatra. Vehicles entering the district from all routes including Kundli–Manesar–Palwal Expressway (KMP) will be thoroughly checked.
The Police have also formed a dedicated social media wing to flag incendiary posts and constituted a committee of both Hindu and Muslim members, authorities said on Friday (19th July).
On 22nd July, the Jalabhishek Yatra will commence from Nuh’s Nalhar temple and it will culminate at Singar via Jhirka’s Jhir mandir in Ferozepur amid heavy deployment of Police.
Nuh Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata stated that three drones have also been deployed. He said, “Around 1,600 police officers will be deployed on the day of the yatra and one company of RAF (Rapid Action Force) and IRB (Indian Reserve Battalion) are also in place in case of an exigency.”
Gurugram South DCP Sidhant Jain said that a social media cell comprising four officers has specifically been asked to monitor content posted online to flag any incendiary posts and take necessary action.
He added, “We have also appealed to the people in the area not to participate in the procession and to pray at their local temples. However, no restriction has been placed on any community in Gurugram.”
DC Khadgata said, “We have 100 volunteers who will help police with the coordination of the movement along the yatra. Thorough checking will be in place to crack down on contraband or any weapon.”
Ahead of the Yatra, the police had filed an FIR against two persons, a minor and a lawyer, earlier this month.
Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra committee convenor Surender Singh said, “Around 8,000 devotees from Haryana and its neighbouring districts are expected to take part in the day-long procession, which will begin with the ritual bathing of the Shiva idol at Nalhar temple and culminate at the Radha Krishan temple in Singar village in Punhana. It will also halt at a Shiva temple in Ferozepur Jhirka on the way.”
He added, “Besides the devotees from outside Nuh, 2,000 local devotees will also be expected to turn up at each of the three temples. Around 50 prominent saints will also join the procession.”
Nuh Shobha Yatra violence
On 31st July 2023, violence broke out in Haryana’s Nuh, Mewat district during the ‘Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra,’ where Islamists launched a planned attack against thousands of Hindus participating in the Shobha Yatra. Islamists torched several vehicles, pelted stones, and opened indiscriminate fire on Hindu devotees part of the Shobha Yatra, leading to clashes and communal tensions in Haryana’s Nuh, a Muslim-majority region.
Islamists have claimed the riots happened because of Bajrang Dal activist and Gau Rakshak Monu Manesar. Old videos of Monu were circulated to instigate Muslims saying he was going to Nuh on that day. The video that was mostly circulated was from October 2022. Detailed reports can be checked here. Furthermore, a cyber crime police station was attacked in Nuh and Police officials were injured
During the investigation into the riots, OpIndia accessed over 25 FIRs and complaints that provided a clearer picture of what happened during the violence. Based on information available via FIRs, complaints, and witnesses, it appeared that the attack was pre-planned. According to the Police, children from a Madarsa were also involved in the attack. The Police also arrested Congress MLA Mamman Khan who was later released on bail.
